Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States California San Francisco Janis Joplin Tree
AO Edited

Janis Joplin Tree

A famous alternative culture epicenter and where Joplin serenaded young hippies.

San Francisco, California

Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
First date on the Joplin Tree  
  Risa Roo / Atlas Obscura User
  MtnLady / Atlas Obscura User
Other side of the Tree   saenglish / Atlas Obscura User
Tree Yoga   Juliannaturalhistorymuseum / Atlas Obscura User
Modern day hippies play on as the fog rolls in.   James Ricci / Atlas Obscura User
  James Ricci / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Now the best place in the park to find impromptu drum circles and enthusiastic pot smokers, the gentle grassy slope known as "Hippie Hill" once attracted Janis Joplin to play her guitar in the shade of the tree that now bears her name.

The hill has enjoyed its reputation for mellow lounging and music dating to the city's epic age of the Hippie. One observer of 1960s San Francisco culture noted, "To this hill streamed the endless river of young persons drawn to San Francisco in search of personal freedom, in search of peace in time of war, or possibly just in search of Acapulco Gold, incredibly good marijuana that wholesaled at $65 a kilo."

Places

Discover your next amazing Atlas Place.

Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Community Contributors

hrnick profile photo James Ricci profile photo Juliannaturalhistorymuseum profile photo M MtnLady profile photo

Edited By

hrnick, James Ricci, Juliannaturalhistorymuseum, MtnLady...

  • hrnick profile photo hrnick
  • James Ricci profile photo James Ricci
  • Juliannaturalhistorymuseum profile photo Juliannaturalhistorymuseum
  • M MtnLady profile photo MtnLady
  • saenglish profile photo saenglish
  • R Risa Roo profile photo Risa Roo

Published

September 7, 2010

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.gothereguide.com/golden+gate+park+san+francisco-place/
  • http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/High-on-Hippie-Hill-a-place-of-possibility-2519960.php#page-2

Related Tags

Plants Marijuana Music
Janis Joplin Tree
Hippie Hill
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California, 94122
United States
37.769617, -122.457019
Get Directions

Nearby Events

Festival

After Dark: Creepatorium

Follow the evolution of fear through hands-on science exhibits, a cow eye dissection, and a Halloween dance floor.

Thu, Oct 29

Exploratorium — San Francisco

View More Events in San Francisco

Nearby Places

Golden Gate Park Lawn Bowling Club

San Francisco, California

miles away

Golden Gate Park Vintage Carousel

San Francisco, California

miles away

Alvord Lake Bridge

San Francisco, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of San Francisco

San Francisco

California

Places 223
Stories 56

Nearby Places

Golden Gate Park Lawn Bowling Club

San Francisco, California

miles away

Golden Gate Park Vintage Carousel

San Francisco, California

miles away

Alvord Lake Bridge

San Francisco, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of San Francisco

San Francisco

California

Places 223
Stories 56

Related Stories and Lists

Where to Have Your Own Coachella

List

By Holyn Thigpen

Related Places

  • A view of Courante.

    Toronto, Ontario

    Toronto Music Garden

    This urban oasis is a marvelous meld of music and landscape architecture.

  • Symbols of New Orleans carved into the trunk of the tree

    New Orleans, Louisiana

    The Music Tree

    A hurricane-stricken oak tree has been reborn as a beautiful chainsaw artwork.

  • The 'Stand By Me' Tree.

    Berlin, Germany

    'Stand By Me' Tree

    Someone loved this song enough to carve all of its lyrics onto a tree trunk in a Berlin park.

  • The Singing Trees

    Aalborg, Denmark

    The Singing Trees

    Dozens of musicians have planted trees in this Danish park, and donated songs to go with them.

  • The Singing Tree.

    New Orleans, Louisiana

    The Singing Oak

    This New Orleans tree is filled with hidden chimes that produce a carefully tuned melody.

  • Michael Jackson Memorial Tree

    Budapest, Hungary

    Michael Jackson Memorial Tree

    A random tree outside a Budapest hotel has become a DIY shrine to the late singer.

  • Longwood Gardens.

    Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

    Longwood Gardens

    This palatial botanical garden is home to one of the largest pipe organs ever installed in a private residence, and a piece of Wood's cycad.

  • Bok Tower Gardens

    Lake Wales, Florida

    Bok Tower Gardens

    Possibly the most beautiful carillon in the world, set atop Iron Mountain in Florida.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2026 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.