Walter S. Johnson Park

The Walter S. Johnson Park surrounds the Palace of Fine Arts Gallery and is maintained by the San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department of San Francisco, California. The park is open to the public and is a popular place for picnicking in the city for locals and tourists alike. The grounds are gorgeous and some of the most beautifully landscaped grounds in the entire city. The Palace of Fine Arts gallery is surrounded by the Walter S. Johnson Park and the grounds include The Rotunda which is available for weddings and other events. The science-centered Exploratorium is also found on-site and is a popular place to visit and learn.

In the 1950s, the Panama Pacific Exposition of 1915 complex was rescued by dedicated citizens, led by Walter S. Johnson, who worked to restore the building to its former being, but this time out of materials built to last. The complex now houses the Palace of Fine Arts, includes its theater, popular for its acoustics, small intimate atmosphere, ornate decorations and the several concerts and events that it hosts throughout the year. The Palace Theater also offers its lobby and theater as a setting for private events. Tours of the gallery and park are available.