Place

Spire by Andy Goldsworthy

Andy Goldsworthy\'s Spire jutting up over the canopy against a bright orange sunset.
Andy Goldsworthy's Spire jutting up over the canopy against a bright orange sunset.

Doc Miles

Quick Facts

Scenic View/Photo Spot

At this site, the cypress trees of the historic forest were removed and replanted, a way to reintroduce the forest in a healthier way. Forty of the logs were selected to create Spire and baby cypress trees were planted around it to replenish the forest. Raised in England, church spires are a huge part of Goldsworthy's upbringing, but the sculpture is also directly referential of nearby trees and buildings visible from the site, such as various church spires and the Transamerica Pyramid.

As time passes, the forest will grow up around Spire, eventually enveloping the space. As you visit this site, consider the changes that have occurred in this very place - Spire and the nearby forest will change with every passing day. Consider where you are in this moment and ask yourself, what changes have I experienced within the last few days, weeks, or even years? What will this moment of my life look like one day, one week, or even one year from now?

- Created in 2008
- Made from large Monterey cypress trunks, derived from a reforestation project at the site
- Extends 90 feet above ground, 12 feet below the surface
- Always open

Andy Goldsworthy's Spire

Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Presidio of San Francisco

Last updated: March 2, 2021