Union Square Park, San Francisco

Union Square in downtown San Francisco is a captivating park on a former parking lot. It's a bustling hub surrounded by top shopping venues. Spanning 2.60 acres, it boasts concessions and performance spaces. Originally designed in 1847, Union Square is deeply rooted in San Francisco's history and has evolved into an iconic location.

In the 1880s, Union Square became the center of a chic residential area, with three notable churches nearby - Calvary Presbyterian, Congregational, and Trinity Churches. The impressive 90-foot Corinthian granite column, erected in 1903, honors Admiral Dewey's naval triumph in the Spanish-American War. Crowned by a bronze goddess of Victory crafted by Robert Aitken, the monument commemorates Alma de Brettville Spreckels.

In the new century, offices and stores replaced residences and churches around Union Square. After the 1906 earthquake, it became San Francisco's top shopping district. The 13-story Hotel Saint Francis, built in 1908, added to its charm, standing tall behind the Dewey Monument. The park went through redesigns but maintained its gentle sloping bowl-like space, offering clear views from surrounding sidewalks.

In 1997, the San Francisco Prize Coalition and the City of San Francisco launched a competition to redesign Union Square Park. It received 309 submissions from 10 countries and 20 states. The winning entry, 'All the Square is a Stage,' transformed the park into an inviting oasis with easy access, a café with open-air seating, and a symphony-sized stage. The project was completed in July 2002, culminating in a week-long concert series.