Normally, the Murphy Windmill (the largest in the world when it was built in 1908) sits majestically, but silently watching over the southwest corner of Golden Gate Park which no longer needs it to pump the 40,000 gallons of water a day it used to before electric pumps took all the glory. But on April 25, 2026, the brakes come off, and the windmill will turn once again in honor of "King's Day," an annual festival celebrating Dutch culture and traditions.
The San Francisco Botanical Garden is one of the most diverse gardens in the world. A unique urban oasis, the garden is a living museum within Golden Gate Park, offering 55 acres of both landscaped gardens and open spaces, and showcasing over 9,000 different kinds of plants from around the world. One of the most beautiful spots is the Japanese-design inspired " Moon Viewing Garden," (pictured above) located in the Mild-Temperate Climate section in the Northwest portion of the gardens. [ view map]