06/11/2026
Was turning the Great Highway into a park really a radical change? Not exactly.
Did you know, long before it became a commuter route, the Great Highway was designed as a place for people to enjoy the coastline by bicycle, on foot, and in horse-drawn carriages. In many ways, today’s Sunset Dunes Park is less of a reinvention and more of a return to the road’s original purpose.
From Victorian-era cycling culture and Playland-at-the-Beach to the infrastructure projects that reshaped the corridor, the history of the Great Highway tells a fascinating story about how cities evolve and who public spaces are built for.
Check our related article to learn about the surprising history behind one of San Francisco’s most iconic waterfront spaces. Link in the comments.
📷 Pi.1415926535, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons