Ah, San Francisco, where the fog rolls in thicker than tech startup bros at a free beer event, and the sound of app creators tapping away on their keyboards echoes through the streets. But amidst all the digital hustle and bustle, there's a hidden gem waiting to be discovered—a quirky aquatic marvel that channels the energy of the bay into a symphony of whimsical sounds.
What initially looks like the remnants of a forgotten castle or the brainchild of a deranged artist, is actually an instrument of auditory awesomeness. Behold, what stands before you is none other than a nifty contraption they call a Wave Organ—which is a fancy way of saying a bunch of gnarly looking pipes that make odd noises when the water smashes into them.
These pipes, strategically positioned to intercept the rhythmic ebb and flow of the bay's waters, produce an orchestra of peculiar noises. From gentle hisses to echoing reverberations, the Wave Organ's repertoire is as diverse as the tides themselves. At times, it evokes the soothing ambiance of a spa soundtrack; at others, it mimics the cacophony of a plumber wrestling with a stubborn clog.
But don't expect any billboard top 100 hits or death metal riffs from this unconventional instrument. The Wave Organ prefers to march to the beat of its own drum, offering up a unique blend of ambient jazz with a sprinkling of aquatic whimsy. It's the kind of music that makes you want to sip a latte and contemplate the mysteries of the universe—or at least, the mysteries of the bay.
If music isn't your thing, the city views from the plateau are spectacular, and you're far enough away from the hustle, bustle, and tech bros that plague the nearby jogging paths. It’s a nice escape, so take some time to sit back and enjoy the solitude, or you can meditate, fish, and/or bring a drum set and use the organ as your jam partner. Just imagine you and the wave organ having a musical showdown.
The sculptures surrounding this aquatic marvel are downright wack: random pipes sprouting out from every direction like a chaotic garden of metallic spaghetti (I think there are about 27, but who's counting?), while stone cylinders and a charmingly bricked ground strive to "really tie the room together." It's like stumbling into a whimsical city designed by a mad scientist for pint-sized adventurers. With so many nooks and crannies to explore, it's like a treasure hunt for grown-ups—except with fewer pirates and more oddly shaped metal protrusions.
Located behind the stuffy sounding Golden Gate Yacht Club, a place that I’d swiftly decline an invite to hang out at, the organ lies not too far from the Golden Gate Bridge on the SF side. Just navigate the bay until you stumble upon it, dodging sailboats and avoiding eye contact with the pretentious yacht club members discussing the stock market and world domination over champagne and caviar.
HOW THE HELL DID THIS HAPPEN?
Created by artist Peter Richards and sculptor George Gonzales, the San Francisco Wave Organ was inspired by a series of Australian sound recordings, which simply came from a pipe being smacked around by the ocean. It all started when Richards—then an artist at the local Exploratorium—received a planning grant to explore the mechanics of bringing such a wacky concept to the States. Eventually, his findings paved the way to a crude organ prototype, which was unveiled at the New Music Festival in 1981. Though it was a far cry from the elaborate organ you see today, the public's enthusiasm led to Exploratorium founding director Frank Oppenheimer finding the funds to construct a more permanent fixture. Construction began in September 1985 and was completed in May 1986, seven months after Frank's death, which led to dedicating the organ to his memory.
