Dutch Windmill

The Dutch Windmill is a seventy-five-foot tower at the western edge of Golden Gate Park, identifiable by its massive wooden blades that rise above the surrounding trees. Built in nineteen oh three, the structure was designed to tap into the underground aquifer near the Pacific Ocean, using the constant westerly winds to pump water for the park’s irrigation. At the time, Golden Gate Park was struggling to sustain its greenery against the shifting sand dunes, and the windmill allowed the city to bypass the expensive rates charged by the local water company.