Skip to Main Content

Wind organ.

Wind Organ and Sonic Sculptures

Field review by the editors.

San Mateo, California

Seal Point Shoreline Park is built on top of a closed-down municipal dump. But it offers walking trails, a wildlife refuge, tremendous views of San Francisco Bay, and scattered public art displays. We've seen this cheery environmental penance in other parts of the US, from Virginia's Mount Trashmore to Missouri's Nuclear Waste Adventure Trail.

Seal Point hosts a selection of large kinetic metal sculptures, many which interact with the wind and acoustics of the landfill mound. A 17-ft. tall sculpture of pipes form a circular wind organ, with listening holes set at easy ear level. A pair of vertical metal saucers face each other, inviting visitors to stand between them and make noises.

A park entrance Wind Wheel "casts prismatic rainbows as it creates a circular gateway," though apparently it was expensive for San Mateo and didn't work as promised when installed in 2009.

Sonic saucers.

Wind Organ and Sonic Sculptures

Seal Point Park

Address:
J Hart Clinton Dr., San Mateo, CA
Directions:
US Hwy 101 exit 416 east on J Hart Clinton Dr. to park entrance on left.
Hours:
Gates open dawn-dusk Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Admission:
Park entry fee.
Save to My Sights

Nearby Offbeat Places

Japanese Tea GardenJapanese Tea Garden, San Mateo, CA - 2 mi.
Lost Dairy MuralLost Dairy Mural, Burlingame, CA - 3 mi.
Last Stagecoach Hold-Up in San Mateo CountyLast Stagecoach Hold-Up in San Mateo County, Hillborough, CA - 3 mi.
In the region:
Champions For Humanity: Mount Rushmore of California, Oakland, CA - 16 mi.

More Quirky Attractions in California

Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in California.

Explore Thousands of Unique Roadside Landmarks!

Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. Start here.
Use RoadsideAmerica.com's Attraction Maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Save Cool Vacation Destinations! ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

California Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

JFK's World Famous Twine Ball, Highland, Wisconsin (Mar 18-24, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings