Ever held a shell up to your ear to “hear” the ocean? Peter Richards and
George Gonzalez wanted to duplicate that sound in their Wave Organ.
Built in 1986, this acoustical marvel on California’s San Francisco Bay is
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at high tide, making an echoing, swooshing sound. Stones recycled from
a cemetery give the organ the look of an ancient ruin. Visitors can lis -
ten as the sculpture gracefully marks the passage of time; its melodies
change with the tides, seasons and phases of the moon. The Wave
Organ’s secluded location makes it the perfect place for contemplation.
—Kaylin Kaupish, ASSISTANT EDITORSecret Spaces
Listen to the Wave Organ’s music at Guideposts.org/WaveMusic 45
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