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All the United States California South San Francisco Wind Harp

Wind Harp

A large instrument played by the wind.

South San Francisco, California

Added By
Mike Bison
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CAPTION
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
The top of the chimes   LorisHart / Atlas Obscura User
The view of the Wind Harp after entering the site   twilbanks / Atlas Obscura User
Sign at the entrance to the Wind Harp   twilbanks / Atlas Obscura User
  Findingbalance18 / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Wind Harp   Ashley Wolf on Flickr
Wind Harp   Ashley Wolf on Flickr
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Perched on a hilltop in a South San Francisco industrial park, this striking 92-foot-tall sculpture by Aristides Demetrios is one of the world's largest aeolian harps. Named for Aeolus, the Greek god of the wind, and invented by the 17th-century polymath Athanasius Kircher, an aeolian harp is a passive instrument played by the movement of the wind.

Originally called the Cabot, Cabot and Forbes Tower when it was constructed in 1967 as the centerpiece of their industrial park.

Fabricated from steel manufactured at Bethlehem Steel.  It was designed to "take advantage of the viewer’s motion…constantly changing, presenting a series of graceful ellipses and a shifting light pattern."

Be sure to visit on a breezy day to hear the eerie sounds of the arched steel I-beams singing at their loudest. Situated 243 feet above sea level, the site also offers a beautiful panoramic view of South San Francisco and the Bay. In turn, the Wind Harp can be seen from the Bay Bridge, East Bay, and the San Francisco Airport. 

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Art Outside Inventions Music

Know Before You Go

It is located amongst the buildings of Genentech. You don't have to enter the campus to access the Wind Harp. You can see the Wind Harp sign from the road. The paved path shown in some of the photos is just north of 525 DNA Way. Signs in the parking lot at that address state that visitors to the Wind Harp may park there for 30 minutes.

Community Contributors

Added By

mbison

Edited By

twilbanks, Anna Minster, rgab1, swayexplores...

  • twilbanks
  • Anna Minster
  • rgab1
  • swayexplores
  • MetaAshley
  • Collector of Experiences
  • Findingbalance18
  • Sunkissedgirl52
  • LorisHart

Published

December 10, 2015

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  • Stannous
  • https://www.yelp.com/biz/wind-harp-tower-south-san-francisco
Wind Harp
Grandview Drive
1227 Masonic Ave #9
South San Francisco, California, 94080
United States
37.654072, -122.387304
Visit Website
Get Directions

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Photo of South San Francisco

South San Francisco

California

Places 2

Nearby Places

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of South San Francisco

South San Francisco

California

Places 2

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