Wave Organ, Tide organ at Marina District, San Francisco, US
The Wave Organ is an art installation with pipes arranged along the San Francisco Bay shoreline that convert waves into sounds. The tubes of different sizes are embedded in stone and concrete work, responding to water movement throughout the site.
The artwork was created in 1986 by Peter Richards and stonemason George Gonzales, using stones from a demolished cemetery. This transformation of materials into new purpose was a key part of the artistic concept.
The installation emerged from collaboration between an artist and a craftsperson, showing how nature and sound can work together. Visitors experience how water movement directly creates music here.
Visitors should come during high tide to hear the best sounds from the pipes, as more water produces richer tones. It's wise to wear sturdy shoes and expect wet rocks throughout the area.
Each pipe produces different tones depending on water level and wave strength. On calm days the sounds are barely audible, while stormy weather creates dramatic tones.
Location: San Francisco
Inception: 1986
Creator: Peter Richards
Accessibility: Wheelchair inaccessible
Website: https://exploratorium.edu/visit/wave-organ
GPS coordinates: 37.80849,-122.44021
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:02
San Francisco brings together historical monuments and natural sites that reflect the city's unique history and geography. The Golden Gate Bridge, a 2,737-meter-long suspension bridge completed in 1937, is one of the region's most recognizable structures. Alcatraz Island, a former high-security federal prison operating from 1934 to 1963, is located in the bay and is visited by ferry. The Painted Ladies, seven Victorian houses built between 1892 and 1896, exemplify San Francisco’s characteristic residential architecture with their colorful facades facing Alamo Square Park. The city also includes Fisherman's Wharf, a historic port district developed from late 19th-century Italian fishing piers, and the Fillmore, a performance hall from the 1910s that contributed to the development of the West Coast music scene. Twin Peaks provide viewpoints at 928 feet (283 meters), while Lands End features rocky cliffs and hiking trails at the western tip of the peninsula. The Cable Cars, a mechanical transportation system operating since 1873, run on three lines through San Francisco's sloped streets.
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