Wave Organ

What you need to know

About

The Wave Organ is a wave-activated acoustic sculpture on a jetty at the end of the Marina Yacht Harbor, next to the St. Francis Yacht Club. Twenty-five pipes of PVC and concrete are set into the rocks at varying elevations along the waterline. As waves and tides push water in and out of the pipes, they produce low resonant sounds that change with the tide.

The piece was designed by Peter Richards, a Senior Artist at the Exploratorium, with stone mason George Gonzales. It was built in May 1986 with funding from the Exploratorium and the National Endowment for the Arts. The granite, marble, and carved stone in the seating areas and walkways was salvaged from the ruins of Laurel Hill Cemetery in the Lone Mountain area, demolished in the 1940s.

What to Expect

Visitors lean toward the pipe openings and listen. The sound varies with the tide: gurgles and drips at low tide, deeper resonant tones at high tide. The sculpture sounds most active during high tide.

The jetty has views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Angel Island. The walk is exposed to wind off the bay.

Visiting

Hours: Open 24 hours.

Cost: Free.

Best time: High tide. Check NOAA or a tide app for San Francisco Bay before going.

What to wear: Layers. The jetty is exposed and typically windy.

Getting There

The walk from the Marina Green parking lot to the Wave Organ runs about 10 minutes along the jetty east of the yacht harbor. The 30 Stockton bus runs along Chestnut Street and extends to Crissy Field during daytime service; from the closest Chestnut Street stop, the walk to the jetty is about 10 to 15 minutes north. Street parking along Marina Boulevard is usually available on weekdays. The Palace of Fine Arts is a 10-minute walk south.