Statue of Junípero Serra, Bronze statue in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, US

The Statue of Junípero Serra depicts a figure with raised hands, wearing robes carved with fine detail and an expressive face. It sits on a pedestal within Golden Gate Park, surrounded by walking paths and garden areas.

Sculptor Douglas Tilden's 30-foot bronze of Junípero Serra was erected in Golden Gate Park in 1907. On June 19, 2020, during protests tied to the George Floyd case, a crowd toppled and defaced it along with nearby monuments to Francis Scott Key, Ulysses S. Grant, Goethe and Schiller, and Cervantes. City crews removed the statues and placed them in storage; Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone condemned the action as sacrilege.

The statue serves as a focal point for reflection on California's founding religious missions and the diverse perspectives people hold about colonial expansion. Visitors pass through this area while exploring one of San Francisco's most active green spaces.

The statue sits in the western section of the park and is accessible via several walking paths that pass through garden areas. Visitors should explore this area during daylight hours, as it is located in an open, well-lit section.

The 30-foot bronze by Douglas Tilden was pulled down and defaced by a crowd on June 19, 2020, during protests tied to the George Floyd demonstrations; nearby monuments to Francis Scott Key, Ulysses S. Grant and the Goethe-Schiller group were also toppled or vandalized. City crews then took the statues into storage. San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone called the act blasphemy and sacrilege.