San Francisco Presidio, Multi-faceted National Treasure
Aerial view of the multi-faceted Presidio in northernmost San Francisco; (c) Presidio Trust
It’s easy to think of the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Cliff House, and Ocean Beach as attractions on the other side of San Francisco. For savvy travelers, San Francisco Presidio makes it on the same itinerary — if only for a drive-through.
The Presidio was a military reservation for 200 years until closing in 1994. Then it became a 1491-acre national park. This dual nature makes it historically rich, stunningly beautiful, and politically contentious.
George Lucas of Star Wars fame opened a branch of his Lucasfilm movie production empire in the new Letterman Digital Arts Center, an area once occupied by outdated military housing. As with many things in San Francisco, Lucasfilm’s arrival in the Presidio was fought by others who wanted the Presidio completely converted into a national park.
Yoda Statue at the Lucasfilm’s campus in the Presidio; (c) Presidio Trust
We are happy to report that their housing-to-office conversion blends nicely in the old forest setting of the Presidio. The Lucasfilm lease and other leases subsidize improvements to many of the Presidios 800 buildings.
Among the 470 buildings on the National Registry of Historic Places, the Presidio Officers Club features a large calendar of public programs, including live music, dance, speeches, films, and family craft days. The Presidio Bowling Center includes a bar and grill that offers burgers, sandwiches, fries, and more.
The Presidio hosts a military museum and the Walt Disney Family Museum. The latter museum opened in 2009 as a 40,000-square-foot venue honoring the creator of global symbols, icons, and characters that are mainstays of pop culture. The stories of Walt Disney’s life, creativity, family, and innovations he brought to life are told through state-of-the-art exhibits in ten interactive galleries.
The Walt Disney Family Museum contains original drawings that Walt Disney made in his youth, cartoons from Laugh-O-gram Films, Disney’s first company, and the earliest known drawings of Mickey Mouse.
Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio; (c) WDFM
Many visitors who sightsee through voluminous Monterey Pines along Lincoln Blvd, Washington Blvd, and Arguello Blvd, glance at dangerous ocean riptides off Bakers Beach. Others perch for views of the latest sports match at Crissy Field.
Park your car near the city side of Golden Gate Bridge and follow the signs to Fort Point under the bridge for the world’s greatest view of a man-made bridge that meets the ocean. Better yet, enjoy a Sunday afternoon picnic in the green area of Main Post. Rob Hill Campground welcomes 16,000 overnight campers annually.
A free frequent shuttle, PresidiGo, has many hop-on-hop-off sites within the park. That comes in happy when exploring 24 miles of hiking trails, 15 miles of biking trails, and 8 scenic overlooks in the park.
Fort Point under the southern end of Golden Gate Bridge; (c) Soul Of America
The Presidio also has a nationally recognized 18-hole golf course, driving range, and practice area. It has a full-service restaurant, Arguello, and a new visitor center to plan your itinerary. Inn at the Presidio and soon, Lodge at the Presidio, provide character-filled historic hotel lodging in this natural park with views of the forest and Golden Gate Bridge.
The most historic part of the Presidio is Fort Point Museum which anchors the southern end of Golden Gate Bridge. Fort construction began in 1853 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The lowest tier of artillery is located close water level, so cannonballs could ricochet across the water’s surface to hit enemy ships at the waterline. Workers blasted the 90-foot cliff down to 15 feet above sea level.
The structure featured seven-foot-thick walls and multi-tiered casemated construction typical of forts in that era. Among military exhibits in the museum, the Buffalo Soldiers Gallery is captivating to anyone with ancestors who served in the U.S. military. At the end of the day, most citizens would agree that the dual-natured Presidio is a successful outcome.
ADDRESS: Located in northwest San Francisco MAP
WEBSITE: https://www.presidio.gov