The National AIDS Memorial Grove, or "The Grove," is located at the de Laveaga Dell in eastern Golden Gate Park, in San Francisco, California. The Grove is a dedicated space and place in the national landscape where the millions of Americans touched directly or indirectly by AIDS can gather to heal, hope, and remember. The mission of the AIDS Memorial Grove is to provide a healing sanctuary and to promote learning and understanding of the human tragedy of the AIDS pandemic. Introduction Congress and the President of the United States approved the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 in 1996, which officially set aside the deLaveaga Dell land in Golden Gate Park as the site for the first AIDS memorial in the nation. The Grove continues through the additional generosity of services and financial support given by numerous individuals, corporations, and foundations. Thousands of community volunteers have ensured over 20 years that continuous gardening and regular maintenance occurs, along with periodic enhancement projects, to keep the landscape vital and sense of place beautiful. The Grove serves as an important sanctuary for people, from locals to world visitors, a refuge for memories and a place of new enjoyment. "Most memorials are built after the struggle is over. This battle rages on and we cannot wait, lest any one of our loved ones lost to AIDS be forgotten." The Grove's former executive director and current board member, Thom Weyand, has said that "part of the beauty of the grove is that as a memorial which receives no federal money, it is blessedly removed from the fight over the controversy of AIDS." Access The Main Portal entrance is at 856 Stanyan Street in eastern Golden Gate Park. The West Portal and South Portal are the two other designated entrances, also on park roads surrounding The Grove. Other secondary walkways enter naturally from the park roads and adjacent park areas. Access to the Grove is open during the park's hours. Free guided tours—excursions are given monthly for the public (except winter). History of The Grove AIDS Memorial Grove 1988 Isabel Wade and Nancy McNally envision: "A beautiful grove where people could find solitude and hope while remembering loved ones… a place to provide a positive focus for our grief." The idea was shared with mutual friends to create a living tribute to friends lost to AIDS. 1989 The Grove Steering Committee