Wave Organ
A strange musical instrument sits at the end of a jetty in San Francisco’s Marina district. The Wave Organ makes music using only waves from the bay.
Peter Richards and George Gonzalez built this stone structure in 1986 with 25 pipes that create sounds when water hits them. The Exploratorium museum backed the project.
Today, anyone can visit this unique sculpture that turns regular water movement into odd, haunting tunes.
Bill Fontana’s Sydney Recordings Sparked the Idea
Richards first learned about wave music through Bill Fontana’s sound recordings from Sydney, Australia. Fontana had captured noises coming from a vent pipe on a floating concrete dock.
This idea amazed Richards, who grew up in landlocked Colorado with no oceans. Fontana was known for traveling the world to record natural sounds in different places.
His work showed how everyday noises could become music when given proper attention.
National Endowment for the Arts Funded Initial Research
In 1980, Richards got money from the National Endowment for the Arts to study his wave sound idea. This government agency helps artists try new things. The grant let Richards test how waves work with different pipes.
He tried various materials and setups to find what made the best sounds. At the time, Richards worked as a Senior Artist at the Exploratorium science museum. This job gave him the perfect base for developing his unusual musical project.
New Music ’81 Festival Prototype Generated Support
Richards built a simple version of his wave sound device in 1981. He showed it off at the New Music ’81 Festival where experimental musicians gathered. People stopped to hear the basic pipes making sounds from the bay.
Though rough and unfinished, this early model proved the idea worked. The positive response convinced many that a permanent installation would be worth building. Support grew quickly after the festival, pushing the project forward.
Frank Oppenheimer’s Critical Support and Legacy
Frank Oppenheimer, who started the Exploratorium, became a key supporter. He helped get permits and raise money to build the permanent Wave Organ.
Sadly, Oppenheimer died in February 1985, just before construction began. His early support had already set the project on a path to success.
When the Wave Organ opened in 1986, it was dedicated to Oppenheimer’s memory. Through years of working together at the museum, Richards had become close to the Oppenheimer family.
George Gonzalez Brought Stone Masonry Expertise
George Gonzalez joined as the master stonemason. His skills were perfect for turning old cemetery stones into art.
Before working with stone, Gonzalez had wanted to be a surgeon. His path changed when he studied graphic design, which eventually led him to work with stone.
Gonzalez created the seating areas, platforms, and decorative parts of the Wave Organ. His craftsmanship made the functional sound pipes into a complete artistic space.
Laurel Hill Cemetery Materials Found New Purpose
The Wave Organ stands on stones from Laurel Hill Cemetery. This burial ground served San Francisco from 1854 until the 1940s.
Laurel Hill once covered 55 acres in what is now the city. As San Francisco grew, most graves moved to Colma, a town south of the city.
Many famous San Franciscans had been buried at Laurel Hill. Among them was Andrew Halladie, who invented the cable car system that still runs in the city today.
Repurposed Headstones Became Art Elements
Old tombstones from Laurel Hill now form walls and paths in the Wave Organ. Marble and granite markers that once honored the dead became parts of this unusual instrument.
You can still see pieces of tombs and monuments throughout the structure. Some stones keep their original carved details from when they marked graves.
Richards used these cemetery pieces on purpose. The aged stones make the Wave Organ look like ancient ruins, adding to its mystical feeling.
Construction Process Involved Community Effort
Work began in September 1985 with help from the community. Hundreds of volunteers joined Richards and Gonzalez to build this unusual instrument.
The team dug out the site and carefully placed 25 PVC and concrete pipes around the jetty. Each pipe needed precise positioning to work properly.
After eight months of work, the Wave Organ was finished in May 1986. The public could finally experience this unique musical creation.
Engineering the Wave-Activated Sound System
The pipes sit at different heights to work with changing water levels. Some reach underwater while others catch only the highest waves.
When water hits the pipe openings, it pushes air through the tubes, making sounds. Each pipe creates different tones based on its size and position.
This design turns natural wave patterns directly into music. No electricity or human players needed – just the endless motion of the bay.
Resulting Acoustic Experience Requires Attentive Listening
The Wave Organ makes quiet sounds, not loud music. Visitors must listen carefully to hear its full range of noises.
Low rumbles, gentle gurgles, soft sloshes, and light hisses blend together. No two visits sound alike because tides and weather constantly change.
The best time to visit is high tide when more pipes are active. During these peak water times, the Wave Organ produces richer, fuller sounds.
Visiting Wave Organ
You’ll find the Wave Organ at the end of a jetty near the Golden Gate Yacht Club at 83 Marina Green Drive in San Francisco. This free acoustic sculpture welcomes visitors any time, day or night.
For the best experience, come during high tide when waves create the strongest sounds through the pipes. The Exploratorium occasionally offers special guided tours by docents who explain Richards and Gonzalez’s artistic vision.
While exploring, look for the carved cemetery stones from Laurel Hill that form seating areas.
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