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Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco is an iconic city park that’s perfect for picnics and fresh air. It’s also home to the country’s second-largest memorial to Martin Luther King Jr., an enormous sculptural waterfall fountain featuring inscribed quotations from Dr. King. The largest memorial is in Washington, D.C.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is today, January 19th, 2026. It always falls on the third Monday in January, close to Dr. King’s birthday on January 15th.
When’s the last time you visited this profound monument?
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The massive memorial, titled Revelation, was designed in 1993 by sculptor Houston Conwill, poet Estella Majoza, and architect Joseph De Pace. It is 50 feet wide and 20 feet tall, with a 120,000-gallon reflecting pool.
Water cascades from the pool over a granite walkway, blocking out the city sounds and creating a tunnel in which visitors can contemplate inscribed quotations from Dr. King’s speeches.
I believe the day will come when all God’s children from bass black to treble white will be significant on the constitution’s keyboard.”
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
No. No, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
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The fountain tunnel’s west entrance bears a photograph of Dr. King, and all quotes are translated into the languages of San Francisco’s sister cities, plus Arabic and some African dialects.
Above the waterfall, visitors will find a garden with plants representing each of the sister cities, including Osaka, Sydney, Manila, Thessaloniki, and more.
Have you walked through the waterfall at the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial? Consider taking a stroll through Yerba Buena Gardens today to honor Dr. King’s legacy.
📍 Location: 750 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94103