Pulgas Water Temple

The Pulgas Water Temple was built in 1934 to celebrate the completion of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and aqueduct across the California central valley to Crystal Springs Reservoir.

It’s a small Greco-Roman style temple and long reflecting pool set at the edge of the reservoir waters and open space preserve. Built by San Francisco and maintained by the San Francisco Water District, it’s fronted by a manicured park, and open to the public during weekday daylight hours, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Bay Area’s other classically inspired water temple, the Sunol Water Temple was built decades earlier but is also still standing, now surrounded by a small park and agricultural land. There is a quote attributed to the prophet Isaiah that is written on a plaque and adorns the temple.

“I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. The beast of the field shall honor me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. “