Poet’s Corner, one of the Sausalito’s most beloved landmarks, was beautifully restored in 2018 thanks to the leadership of neighbors and history buffs along with some assistance from Sausalito Beautiful. Located at the intersection of Bulkley and Harrison Avenues, Poet’s Corner was built in 1901 as a memorial to legendary Sausalito poet Daniel O’Connell (1848-1899). Unfortunately, the majestic curving granite bench and the handmade mosaic tile floor had become cracked and discolored over the years.

This site represents Sausalito Beautiful’s first Neighborhood Beautification Project. Many of our prior projects such as Bridgeway Boulevard medians had larger-scale impacts and involved much more resources. For this pocket park, the surrounding neighbors provided project management, generous financial support, and landscape improvements. Sausalito Beautiful served as liaison to the City and offered a matching grant.

Restoration of the landmark’s stonework was accomplished by San Francisco historic preservation artisan Manuel Palos while landscape improvements were handled through the generosity of nearby neighbors. Members of the City’s Department of Public Works and Parks and Recreation staff were indispensable in project completion, another example the successful partnership enjoyed by Sausalito Beautiful and the City. Ongoing maintenance of the landscape improvements remains the responsibility of the City’s landscaping crew, assisted by Adopt-a-Park volunteers.

Additional tile work to address discoloration issues occurred in 2024. Landscape improvements provided by Sausalito Beautiful in 2023 and 2024 include removing two dead plum trees, adding colorful perennials, and—a major project—removing the diseased laurel hedge, replacing the contaminated soil with clean soil, planting 13 new Wax Myrtle hedge plants and building a new stone wall.

The pocket park honors Daniel O’Connell (1849 – 23 January 1899), an Irish writer and poet who lived in Sausalito and worked for the San Francisco Chronicle in the late 1800’s. O’Connell originally came to California in 1868 at the age of 19. He lived on the first block of Cazneau Street, a few blocks up the hill from the new Fire and Police buildings, with his wife and seven children. From all accounts he was both a respected writer and a likable guy.

We invite you to visit this historic site to admire the beauty of its sweeping Bay views, while imagining the hillside as it was during the lifetime of Daniel O’Connell, one of our most legendary characters.