Bison, an iconic symbol of the American West, were nearly extinct when the herd at Golden Gate Park was established. In 1899, the herd was moved to its current location in the meadow west of Spreckels Lake along John F. Kennedy Drive. The small herd is cared for by staff from the San Francisco Zoo, while the enclosure is maintained by gardeners from the Recreation and Parks Department. The bison’s original home was in the eastern part of the park, near the Music Concourse.