Golden Gate Park, Cliff House part of giant San Francisco toothpick sculpture


Golden Gate Park’s bandshell – made from toothpicks! Photo by Tinkering Studio

How many toothpicks does it take to depict the key landmarks of San Francisco, including Golden Gate Park’s Music Concourse bandshell and Dutch Windmill? 100,000 or so. Plus 35 years of hard work.

You’re looking at photos and video from Scott Weaver’s “Rolling Through The Bay” sculpture which is on display at the Exploratorium’s Tinkering Studio until June 19.

Not only is the city of San Francisco depicted with tiny toothpicks, Weaver’s sculpture is also a marble run, allowing ping-pong balls to take various tours through the city.

Weaver, a resident of Ronhert Park, CA, first debuted “Rolling Through the Bay” back in 2008. Another interesting factoid about the sculpture – it’s made from toothpicks thrown at him and his wife (in lieu of rice) during their wedding.

Hmm, that’s a lot of toothpicks… How many times has Scott made that trip down the aisle? 😉

Sarah B.


One of Golden Gate Park’s Dutch windmills, depicted in toothpicks. Photo by Tinkering Studio