Your Guide Book to the Pacific Railroad
San Francisco in 1879
Woodward's Gardens
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Woodward's Gardens, 13th and 14th. Sts. near Mission |
The city line of horse-cars leads to the gardens from Market Street Ferry by two
routes for part of the distance, both joining on Mission Street, on which the
gardens front. They cover six acres, and almost every taste can be suited somewhere
in them. A quarter dollar is charged for admission.
It is pleasant place to pass a half a day visiting the
collection of living animals and birds, among which are camels born in the
garden, and sea-lions caught in the Pacific, and paid for at the rate of
seventy-five cents a pound. One big fellow, a captive for seven years, has grown
to weigh over a ton.
Sea-lions can be studied better at Woodward's than at Seal
Rock, especially at the hour when they are fed, when they do some fearful
leaping and splashing.
There are fine collections also of stuffed birds, and other
curiosities, hot-house plants, aquaria not surpassed on this Continent, a skating
rink, and many other attractive features.
The active and jolly can resort to the play-ground and
gymnasium, and those who like quiet, will find shady nooks and walks, and those
who like to study mankind can gaze on the groups standing around, and streaming passers-by.
Through the whole season, from April to November, it is
always genial and sunny and enjoyable there.
Who was Woodward?
Added by editor
From the 1879 City Directory, we learn he was R. B. Woodward. In addition to the
Gardens, he owned the "What Cheer House," at 527-531 Sacramento, and
was president of the City Railroad Company.
One of his lines ran from the
Ferry Building along Mission to the Gardens. The offices and depot were a block
away. Woodward lived in Napa.
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