Did You Know: Horse Manure Was Key to Creating Golden Gate Park?

By theFrontSteps Real Estate on January 17, 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

In the 1860s, the idea of turning San Francisco’s barren sand dunes into a massive park seemed laughable. The western half of the city was considered a wasteland, and critics called the project a “white elephant.” But ingenuity—and horse manure—made it happen.

With horse-drawn carriages dominating the city, San Francisco had no shortage of manure. The city began dumping it on the dunes, enriching the sand and creating fertile soil for planting. A brief political fight almost derailed the plan when the Street Department withheld the manure, considering other uses like dumping it into the Bay. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed, and the flow of fertilizer resumed.

The first superintendent, William Hammond Hall, stabilized the sand with barley, lupine, and manure. He then planted thousands of trees, including eucalyptus and Monterey cypress. Within years, the park began to take shape, though ongoing maintenance and irrigation are still essential to keep it green.

Golden Gate Park stands today as a testament to practical thinking—and the unexpected power of horse manure.

Bet you didn’t know that…or maybe you did.