Presidio of San Francisco facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Presidio of San Francisco
A map of the Presidio
Presidio of San Francisco Location in San Francisco
Country	United States
State	California
City-county	San Francisco
Fortified	September 17, 1776
Government
• Type	Board of Supervisors
Area
• Total	2.4 sq mi (6 km²)
Population (2019)
• Total	4,226
• Density	1,760/sq mi (680/km²)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP code	94129
Area codes	415/628


Presidio of San Francisco
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark

Area	1,480 acres (6.0 km²)
Built	1776
Architect	Spanish/Mexico/United States Army
Architectural style	Spanish Colonial, Spanish Revival, Colonial Revival, Classical Revival
Website	Presidio of San Francisco Presidio Trust
NRHP reference No.	66000232
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 15, 1966
Designated NHL	June 13, 1962

The Presidio of San Francisco is a large park and a former U.S. Army base in San Francisco, California. It sits at the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula and is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Its original name was El Presidio Real de San Francisco, meaning "The Royal Fortress of Saint Francis."

This area has been a protected spot since September 17, 1776. That's when New Spain (which was like a Spanish colony) built a fort here. This helped them gain a strong position in Alta California and the San Francisco Bay. The Presidio later became part of Mexico in 1820. Then, in 1848, it became part of the United States.

In 1994, the Presidio stopped being an active military base. It was then given to the National Park Service. This ended 219 years of military use. After that, it became a mix of public park and commercial spaces.

In 1996, the United States Congress created the Presidio Trust. This group helps manage most of the park's land. The National Park Service manages the areas along the coast. Congress asked the Presidio Trust to make the park financially stable by 2013. The Trust actually reached this goal in 2005, much earlier than expected!

The park has many forests, hills, and amazing views. You can see the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, and the Pacific Ocean. The Presidio was named a California Historical Landmark in 1933. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1962.

A Look Back: The Presidio's Story
Visiting the Presidio
Crissy Field Center
Presidio Tunnel Tops
Timeline: Key Moments in Presidio History
See Also

A Look Back: The Presidio's Story

Military History of the Presidio

The Presidio started as a Spanish fort. Juan Bautista de Anza chose the spot on March 28, 1776. A group led by José Joaquín Moraga built it later that year. Ohlone people helped by mining the limestone used for building. By 1783, only 33 soldiers were stationed there.

After Mexico became independent from Spain in 1821, Mexico briefly controlled the fort.

The Presidio in 1817

The U.S. military took over the Presidio in 1846 during the Mexican–American War. It officially reopened under American control in 1848. It became home to many army groups. Famous U.S. generals like William Sherman and John Pershing lived here.

The Presidio played a role in many U.S. military actions in the Pacific Rim. For example, it was where soldiers gathered before invading the Philippines during the Spanish–American War. This was America's first big military action in that area.

In the 1890s, the Letterman Army Medical Center (LAMC) was built at the Presidio. It was named after Jonathan Letterman, a medical director from the American Civil War. LAMC provided excellent medical care to thousands of wounded soldiers. This happened during every U.S. conflict in the 20th century.

The San Francisco National Cemetery is one of the last two cemeteries in the city. Many military people are buried there. This includes General Frederick Funston, Sr., a hero from the Spanish–American War. He was also in charge of the Presidio during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. General Irvin McDowell, a Union Army commander, is also buried there.

There was also a cemetery for merchant sailors near the Marine Hospital. Historians think it was used from 1885 to 1912. A walking trail now runs along the site. It has signs that tell about its history.

Street map of 1937 of the Army Base

During World War II, the Presidio was the main base for the Western Defense Command. It was here that Lieutenant General John L. DeWitt signed orders for the internment of Japanese Americans. This happened under Executive Order 9066 in 1942.

The Presidio sent its last few units to war in 1991 for Desert Storm. This was the First Gulf War. The Sixth Army's job was to train and prepare Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve units in the Western U.S. for this operation.

Protecting the Presidio's Future

After much discussion, the Presidio was not sold. Instead, it came under the care of the Presidio Trust. This is a U.S. government organization created in 1996.

The Presidio Trust now manages most of the park. They work with the National Park Service. The Trust is in charge of 80 percent of the Presidio's inner lands. This includes almost all its historic buildings. The National Park Service manages the areas along the coast. The United States Park Police are in charge of law enforcement throughout the Presidio.

One of the main goals for the Presidio Trust was to become financially self-sufficient. This means they needed to earn enough money to run the park themselves. They reached this goal in 2006, seven years early! After it started, the Trust began plans to fix up the park. Many areas had to be cleaned before they could be used by the public.

The Presidio Trust Act says they must "preserve the cultural and historic integrity of the Presidio for public use." This means keeping the park's history and culture safe for everyone to enjoy. The Act also required the Trust to be financially self-sufficient. These goals have sometimes led to disagreements. For example, they need to rent out historic buildings to earn money. But they also want to allow public use.

Crissy Field, which used to be an airfield, has been greatly restored. It is now a popular place for fun activities. It is next to the San Francisco Marina on one side. On the other side, it borders the Golden Gate Bridge.

The Old Coast Guard Station and Golden Gate Bridge

The park has about 800 buildings, and many are historic. By 2004, about half of the buildings had been fixed up. The Presidio Trust works with companies to help rent out homes and offices. They think about 5,000 people could live there once all buildings are ready.

Some of the Presidio's residents include The Bay School of San Francisco. This is a private school located in the Main Post area. Other groups include the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and The Walt Disney Family Museum. Many different businesses also rent buildings in the Presidio.

The Presidio of San Francisco is special. It is the only place in a national recreation area that has a large program for renting out homes.

The Presidio has four creeks. Park workers and volunteers are helping to restore these creeks. This helps expand the natural areas for plants and animals. The creeks are Lobos and Dragonfly creeks, El Polin Spring, and Coyote Gulch.

Recent Developments: 1990s to Today

Presidio Parkway construction seen from Storey Avenue in October 2013

The Trust made a big agreement with Lucasfilm to build a new center. It is called the Letterman Digital Arts Center (LDAC). This is now Lucasfilm's main office. This new center replaced parts of the old Letterman Hospital. George Lucas won the right to develop 15 acres of the Presidio in 1999. LDAC replaced the old Lucasfilm offices in San Rafael. The project cost $300 million. It includes almost 900,000 square feet of office space. It also has a large underground parking garage. Lucasfilm's Industrial Light & Magic and other divisions are located here. George Lucas's plan also included a high-tech Presidio museum. It also created a 7-acre "Great Lawn" that is now open to everyone.

In 2007, Donald Fisher, who started the Gap clothing stores, planned to build a museum. It would be called the Contemporary Art Museum of the Presidio. It would hold his art collection. But because of objections, Fisher decided not to build the museum there. He later gave his art to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

An aerial view of the Presidio

The Doyle Drive bridge was old and not safe in earthquakes. So, in 2008, work began to tear it down. It was replaced with a new, wider highway called the Presidio Parkway. This new road includes a tunnel through the hills above Crissy Field. The project cost $1 billion and was finished by 2016.

The Trust plans to create a walkway that will connect different parts of the park. This walkway will link the Lombard Gate, the Lucasfilm campus, and the Golden Gate Bridge. This is part of a plan to add 24 miles of new trails. It will also add eight scenic viewpoints throughout the park.

In 2008, artist Andy Goldsworthy built a sculpture in the Presidio called Spire. It is 100 feet tall and is near the Arguello Gate. It shows the effort to replant trees in the Presidio. He later created Wood Line in 2011, Tree Fall in 2013, and Earth Wall in 2014.

In 2010, a trampoline park called House of Air opened. It was built inside an old aircraft hangar.

As of 2023, it is thought that at least four coyote families live in the park.

Visiting the Presidio

Welcome sign

Battery Chamberlin

The visitor centers are run by the National Park Service:

Presidio Visitor Center: This center has changing exhibits about the Presidio. It also offers information about things to see and do in the park. There is also a bookstore. The Presidio Transit Center is next to this visitor center. You can get there by the Presidio Go Shuttle and Muni bus routes.
Battery Chamberlin: This is a museum about coastal defense. It has artillery on display at Baker Beach. It was built in 1904.
Fort Point: This is a brick and granite fort built in 1861. It is located right under the Golden Gate Bridge. The visitor center is open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It offers videos, guided tours, and exhibits. There is also a bookstore.
Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Visitor Center: This center has hands-on exhibits about marine life. It is in a historic Coast Guard Station at the west end of Crissy Field. The Coast Guard used this building from 1890 to 1990.
Golden Gate Bridge Pavilion: This opened in May 2012 for the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge. It is the first visitor center for the bridge. It is just east of the southern end of the bridge.
Hidden Presidio Outdoor Track: This track starts at Julius Kahn Playground. It goes around the valley below it. It is 0.75 miles of dirt trails, stairs, and different heights.

Crissy Field Center

Crissy Field Center is a special place for learning about the environment. It offers programs for schools, workshops, and summer camps. The center is run by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. It looks out over a restored tidal marsh. The center has interactive exhibits, a media lab, a library, an art workshop, and a science lab. There is also a gathering room, a teaching kitchen, a café, and a bookstore.

The design of Crissy Field helped bring back a natural wetland. This created a home for plants and animals that were not there before. It also restored a historic grass airfield. This airfield was important for the military from 1919 to 1936. The park at Crissy Field made it possible for more people to enjoy the San Francisco shore.

Presidio Tunnel Tops

View of Presidio Tunnel Tops park with Alcatraz Island in the background

Aerial view with the newly opened Presidio Tunnel Tops (lower center)

A big new part of the Presidio is the Presidio Tunnel Tops. This is a 14-acre park built on top of the tunnels of Doyle Drive. The park has several meadows and walking trails. It also has viewpoints where you can see famous landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge.

Groups like Caltrans and the Presidio Trust worked together to make this park happen. The park cost $100 million. This money came from both public and private donations. The park opened to the public on July 17, 2022.

Timeline: Key Moments in Presidio History

California Historical Landmark marker for the Presidio

Before 1776: The land belonged to the Ohlone people.
1776: Spanish Captain Juan Bautista de Anza led 193 soldiers, women, and children on a long journey. They traveled from what is now Tubac, Arizona, to San Francisco Bay.
September 17, 1776: The Presidio began as a Spanish fort. Its job was to protect Spain's claim to San Francisco Bay. It also supported Mission Dolores. It was the northernmost outpost of New Spain.
1794: Castillo de San Joaquin, a place for artillery, was built. It had iron or bronze cannon. Six cannons can still be seen in the Presidio today.
1776–1821: The Presidio was a simple fort made of adobe, brush, and wood. Earthquakes or heavy rains often damaged it. In 1783, there were only 33 men. Soldiers supported Mission Dolores by controlling Native American workers. They also farmed, ranched, and hunted to feed themselves and their families. Spain provided very little help.
1821: Mexico became independent from Spain. The Presidio received even less support from Mexico. People in Alta California, including the Presidio, thought about separating from Mexico.
January 1827: A small earthquake hit San Francisco. Some buildings were badly damaged.
1835: The Presidio soldiers, led by Mariano Vallejo, moved to Sonoma. A small group stayed at the Presidio, which was slowly falling apart.
1846: American settlers in Sonoma started the Bear Flag Revolt against Mexican rule. Mariano Vallejo was put in prison for a short time. Lieutenant John C. Fremont, a U.S. Army officer, took over the Presidio without a fight. A cannon that Fremont spiked is still there today.

The Presidio c. 1850

1846–1848: The U.S. Army took over the Presidio. It became a base for controlling and protecting Native Americans. It was the headquarters for army units on the West Coast.
1853: Work began on Fort Point. It became a great example of coastal defenses. Fort Point, at the Golden Gate, was key to protecting San Francisco Bay. These forts now show 150 years of military concern for West Coast defense.
1861–1865: The American Civil War involved the Presidio. Colonel Albert Sydney Johnston protected Union weapons from Southern supporters. He later became a general in the Confederate Army. He died at the Battle of Shiloh. The Presidio organized volunteer groups for the Civil War. They also controlled Native Americans in California and Oregon.
1869–1870: Major General George Henry Thomas, a Civil War hero, led the Division of the Pacific. General Thomas died in 1870.
1872–1873: The Modoc War involved some Presidio troops. This was the last big U.S. Army operation against Native Americans in the Far West.
1890–1914: Presidio soldiers became the nation's first "park rangers." They patrolled the new Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks.
1898–1906: The Presidio became the main place for gathering, training, and sending out troops. This was for the Spanish–American War in the Philippines. It was also for the later Philippine–American War. Letterman Army Hospital was updated to care for wounded soldiers. The Philippine campaign was an early big U.S. military action in Asia/Pacific.
1903: President Theodore Roosevelt visited the Presidio. His honor guard was from the African American "Buffalo Soldier" 9th Cavalry Regiment. This group helped Roosevelt in his famous charge of San Juan Hill in Cuba.

A refugee camp at the Presidio after the San Francisco earthquake

1906: The San Francisco earthquake led to an immediate Army response. General Frederick Funston led the efforts. Army units helped with security and fought fires. After the fire, Presidio soldiers gave aid, food, and shelter to people who lost their homes. Temporary camps were set up in the Presidio.
1912: Fort Winfield Scott was built in the western part of the Presidio. It was a coastal artillery post and headquarters.
1914–1916: The Presidio Commander, General John J. Pershing, led an expedition into Mexico. This was to stop Pancho Villa, a Mexican rebel. General Pershing's family died in a fire while he was away. Because of this fire, the Presidio Fire Department was started. It was the first fire station on a military post staffed 24 hours a day.
1915: Part of the Panama–Pacific International Exposition was on the Presidio waterfront. Soldiers helped with parades and demonstrations. The Exposition celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal.
1917–1918: The Presidio grew quickly for World War I. It became a place for recruiting, training, and sending out units. An officer training camp was here. Buildings covered the waterfront, and the railroad was busy. The 30th Infantry Regiment, "San Francisco's Own," fought bravely in World War I.
1918–1920: The Presidio was a center for forming and training the American Expeditionary Force Siberia. This group went to Siberia during the Russian Civil War.
1920–1932: The Presidio became home to Crissy Field. This was a major pioneering military aviation field on the West Coast. Important flights across the Pacific and across the country happened here.
1941–1946: World War II brought a lot of activity to the Presidio. It continued as a coordinating headquarters and training site. The Western Defense Command was in charge of defending the West Coast. The Presidio was full of temporary barracks. Letterman Army Hospital was filled with wounded soldiers. A Japanese Language School was set up to train Japanese-Americans as interpreters.
1941–1945: General John L. DeWitt of the Western Defense Command ordered the removal of ethnic Japanese residents to internment camps. President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942.
1946: After World War II, the Presidio command became the Sixth Army. It was in charge of all U.S. Army forces in the Western U.S. It also helped coordinate military disaster relief. President Harry Truman offered the Presidio as a site for the future United Nations Headquarters. But the UN General Assembly chose New York City instead.
1950–1953: The Korean War put a lot of work on the Presidio's headquarters. Letterman Army Hospital cared for wounded soldiers from the war.
1951: The Presidio hosted ceremonies for signing the ANZUS Treaty. This was a security agreement between Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. The Japan-US security treaty was also signed here.
1961–1973: The Presidio supported the Vietnam War. Antiwar protests happened at the Presidio's gates.
1968: The Presidio mutiny happened at the Presidio prison.
1969–1974: Letterman Army Hospital (LAMC) was updated.
1991: The Presidio sent its last few units to war for Desert Storm, the First Gulf War. The Sixth Army managed training and deployment for this operation.
1994: The Sixth Army was closed down. The Presidio stopped being an active U.S. Army base. It was then given to the National Park Service.
1996: The Presidio Trust was created to manage the park.
2001: Letterman Army Hospital was torn down. The Letterman Digital Arts Center was built on its site.

Muwekma Ohlone singing at ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Presidio Visitor Center

2001: The band Metallica recorded demos for their album St. Anger here.
2005: The Bay School of San Francisco opened in Building 35.
2009–2015: The Doyle Drive Replacement Project happened. The old Doyle Drive bridge was torn down and replaced with a new highway. This included tunnels and elevated sections. The project cost about $1 billion.
2017: The William Penn Mott, Jr. Presidio Visitor Center opened. It is a main point for visitors to explore the Presidio. It is run by the National Park Service, the Presidio Trust, and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.