The McLaren Lodge
- Kai Butler
- Mar 29, 2014
- 2 min read
William Henry Jackson likely photographed this building in San Francisco in the late 1890's on one of his many trips to the west coast and not long after it was built.
Two years ago, when visiting there, we set out to see if we could find out if this building was still standing. It didn't take long to find it. It was especially nice to see how they had kept the building so original and that it was still in use by the park. The structure is known as the McLaren Lodge.
Built in 1896, The McLaren Lodge was once the home of John McLaren, the park Superintendent and caretaker of Golden Gate Park from 1887 to 1943. With a whole-hearted dedication to the park, McLaren lived at the Lodge for 47 years. The sandstone structure, designed by Architect Edward R. Swain, displays a Moorish-Gothic style of architecture with exterior walls comprised of 18-inch thick ashlar basalt masonry. Today, the Lodge is the administrative headquarters of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. McLaren Lodge is a registered San Francisco landmark (No. 175).
Situated in the front of the Lodge (off to the left and out of view in both photos) is a Monterey cypress nicknamed 'Uncle John's Tree'. During the holiday season in December, an annual tree lighting ceremony has taken place for more than 80 years at McLaren Lodge. The tree light ceremony is a real extravaganza with free activities and goodies for the entire family, including carnival rides, refreshments, and a visit from Santa.
(1) Original print 7 x 3.5 inch available (please contact us for pricing)
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