Wave Organ

Here’s something you don’t see every day.

The Wave Organ is an ‘acoustic sculpture’ built on the shore of San Francisco bay by the Exploratorium, a public learning laboratory/science museum. It looks like a weird rock garden of slabs and stones on the edge of the sea. But what makes it special is the sound, as a series of 25 PVC organ pipes and several different listening stations turns the movements of the water and waves in the bay into fascinating sounds. The result depends on the movements of the tide, but one can expect to hear hums, rumbles, gurgles, splashes, and fizzes.
It’s a lovely and unusual way to spend a few hours. Stone benches are set up near the listening spots for you to sit and listen to, and there are great panoramic views of the city. To hear the sounds at its most dynamic, visit at high tide. The Wave Organ is at the end of the shard of land that sticks out from the Golden Gate Yacht Club.