The National AIDS Memorial Grove in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is a place to remember people whose lives have been affected by AIDS. Allow time for a quiet walk through its landscaped spaces and inscribed memorials. The visit centers on remembrance and the community that created the Grove.

Places for reflection

Pause at the Circle of Friends, where inscriptions recognize people touched by AIDS.
Walk between the meadow, Fern Grotto and Circle of Peace.
Consider how community care turned an overgrown dell into a living memorial.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Topic	Details
Organized events	Larger organized events can incur fees.
Opening hours	The memorial organization lists daily access from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Confirm current access before a visit near opening or closing time.
Seasonal access and closures	Confirm event use or temporary access changes before a special visit.

Safety information

Use the established paths and choose an arrival time within confirmed access hours.

Visit responsibly

Give people attending memorial services or reading inscriptions room and privacy. Keep the visit quiet, and avoid treating gathering areas as a backdrop for disruptive activities.

Reservations and permits

All organized events require permission; larger events can have charges. Contact the memorial organization before planning a service, wedding or group gathering. Event permission should not be confused with routine individual access.

Location and arrival

The Grove is in eastern Golden Gate Park at Nancy Pelosi Drive and Bowling Green Drive, across from the tennis courts. Older city directions use the name Middle Drive East. The organization’s post-office box is a mailing address, not a visitor entrance.

Nearby parks

Golden Gate National Recreation Area has several San Francisco coastal sites accessible by road or transit. Choose a specific destination rather than navigating to its headquarters.
Candlestick Point State Recreation Area is another city-based option, with a main entrance at 500 Hunters Point Expressway. Plan a separate trip across San Francisco.

Ways to experience the memorial

Read and remember: Take time with the names and messages rather than walking through as a sightseeing shortcut.
Explore the landscape: Follow paths through the gathering areas and planted woodland.
Participate: Ask about volunteer workdays or memorial programs through the Grove’s official program page. A Quilt display is not guaranteed on a routine visit.

Facilities and accessibility

Benches and gathering spaces provide places to pause. The operator describes a paved mobility path to the Circle of Friends and gravel access by the meadow. Confirm a suitable route for your needs.

About the memorial

History

Residents conceived the Grove in 1988 as the AIDS epidemic devastated their community. Renovation began in 1991 at de Laveaga Dell. Federal legislation designated the national memorial in October 1996. The official history describes its continued development through volunteers and a partnership with the city.

Trees and the memorial landscape

Redwoods, dogwoods, oaks and pines contribute to the planted setting. Its primary purpose is remembrance.

Contact

Use the memorial contact page or email [email protected] for program and access questions.

	Temp max	Temp min	Rain	Snow
Jan	14 °C 57 °F	9 °C 48 °F	91 mm 3.6 in	0 mm 0.0 in
Feb	14 °C 57 °F	9 °C 48 °F	90 mm 3.5 in	0 mm 0.0 in
Mar	15 °C 59 °F	10 °C 50 °F	79 mm 3.1 in	0 mm 0.0 in
Apr	15 °C 59 °F	10 °C 50 °F	33 mm 1.3 in	0 mm 0.0 in
May	16 °C 61 °F	11 °C 52 °F	10 mm 0.4 in	0 mm 0.0 in
Jun	18 °C 64 °F	13 °C 55 °F	3 mm 0.1 in	0 mm 0.0 in
Jul	18 °C 64 °F	13 °C 55 °F	1 mm 0.0 in	0 mm 0.0 in
Aug	18 °C 64 °F	14 °C 57 °F	0 mm 0.0 in	0 mm 0.0 in
Sep	19 °C 66 °F	14 °C 57 °F	4 mm 0.2 in	0 mm 0.0 in
Oct	19 °C 66 °F	13 °C 55 °F	32 mm 1.3 in	0 mm 0.0 in
Nov	16 °C 61 °F	10 °C 50 °F	64 mm 2.5 in	0 mm 0.0 in
Dec	13 °C 55 °F	9 °C 48 °F	121 mm 4.8 in	0 mm 0.0 in

AIDS Memorial Grove National Memorial in California, USA - map and visitor information