Presidio of San Francisco

For thousands of years, Native Americans called the Ohlone managed and harvested the natural bounty of what is now the Presidio. In 1776, Spanish soldiers and missionaries arrived, forever disrupting Ohlone culture and beginning 218 years of military use of the area just south of the Golden Gate.

The Presidio served as a military post under the flags of Spain (1776-1822), Mexico (1822-48), and the United States (1848-1994). As a U.S. Army post, the Presidio protected commerce and trade, and played a logistical role in every major U.S. military conflict over the last 150 years. World events and those on the home front - from military campaigns to the rise of aviation, from World Fairs to natural disasters - left their mark here.

On October 1, 1994, the Presidio became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Since 1998, the Presidio has been jointly managed by the National Park Service and the Presidio Trust. The Presidio Trust is a special public-private governmental agency tasked with managing most of the buildings of the Presidio and making the park financially self-sufficient by 2013.

Today, visitors can enjoy the history and beauty of the Presidio. Within its 1,480 acres are more than 500 historic buildings, a collection of coastal defense fortifications, a national cemetery, an historic airfield, a saltwater marsh, forests, beaches, native plant habitats, coastal bluffs, miles of hiking and biking, and some of the most spectacular vistas in the world.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Building 201, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 561-4323 - Visitor Information
(415) 561-4314 - Visitor Information
(415) 561-4323 - Headquarters

By Plane
San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose International Airports service the San Francisco Bay area.

By Car
The Presidio can be reached from the north by crossing the Golden Gate Bridge (Highways 1 and 101); from the east by way of Lombard Street (Highway 101); and from the south via Highway 1.

By Plane
San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI) buses serve the Presidio via the 28, 29, 43 and 82X lines. Bus service from the North Bay to the Golden Gate Bridge toll plaza is available through Golden Gate Transit. Commercial cable car buses are available from Fisherman's Wharf.

The climate tends to be windy and cool throughout much of the year. Summers are foggy, with the best weather in spring and fall. Dress in layers. Hiking boots are appropriate in some areas.

Here are some of the activities that are offered at Mount Rainier National Park.

• Auto Touring
• Biking
• Camping
• Educational Programs
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Bird Watching
• Nature Walks

Recommended Activities
The Presidio contains 11 miles of hiking trails, including the Golden Gate Promenade, the Coastal Trail, an ecology trail, and portions of the Bay Area Ridge Trail, the Bay Trail, and the Anza National Historic Trail. Cyclists can explore the area on 14 miles of paved roads and along some unpaved parts of the Bay Area Ridge Trail. A world-class board-sailing area borders Crissy Field, while fishing and crabbing opportunities abound from the nearby rocks and pier. The park also contains numerous sports facilities, including a golf course, bowling alley, tennis courts and athletic fields. Of special notice is the opportunity for photography of scenic views of the Bay Area and the Presidio's historic architecture.