History Presidio of San Francisco

1 history

1.1 history
1.2 preservation
1.3 recent developments

history
early history


california historical landmark marker presidio



the presidio in 1817



battery chamberlin

the presidio spanish fort sited juan bautista de anza on march 28, 1776, built party led josé joaquín moraga later year. in 1783, presidio s garrison numbered 33 men.

upon mexican independence spain, briefly operated mexican fortification.

the presidio seized u.s. military in 1846, @ start of mexican-american war. officially re-opened americans in 1848 , became home several army headquarters , units, last being united states 6th army. several famous u.s. generals, such william sherman, george henry thomas, , john pershing, made homes here.

during long history, presidio involved in of america s military engagements in pacific. importantly, assembly point army forces invaded philippines in spanish-american war, america s first major military engagement in asia/pacific region.

beginning in 1890s, presidio home letterman army medical center (lamc), named in 1911 jonathan letterman, medical director of civil war era army of potomac. lamc provided thousands of war-wounded high quality medical care during every foreign conflict of 20th century.

one of last 2 remaining cemeteries within city s limits san francisco national cemetery. among military personnel interred there general federick funston, hero of spanish–american war, philippine–american war, , commanding officer of presidio @ time of 1906 earthquake; , general irvin mcdowell, union army commander defeated confederates in first battle of bull run.

the marine hospital operated cemetery merchant seamen approximately 100–250 yards (91–229 m) hospital property. based on city municipal records, historians estimate cemetery in use 1885 1912. part of trails forever initiative, parks conservancy, national park service, , presidio trust partnered build walking trail along south side of site featuring interpretive signage history.

the presidio center defense of western u.s. during world war ii. infamous order intern japanese-americans, including citizens, during world war ii signed @ presidio. until closure in 1995, presidio longest continuously operated military installation in united states.

preservation

after hard-fought battle, presidio averted being sold @ auction , came under management of presidio trust, u.s. government corporation established act of congress in 1996.

the presidio trust manages of park in partnership national park service. trust has jurisdiction on interior 80 percent of presidio, including of historic structures. national park service manages coastal areas. primary law enforcement throughout presidio jurisdiction of united states park police.

one of main objectives of presidio trust s program achieving financial self-sufficiency fiscal year 2013, reached in 2006. after inception, trust began preparing rehabilitation plans park. many areas had decontaminated before prepared public use.

the presidio trust act calls preservation of cultural , historic integrity of presidio public use. act requires presidio trust financially self-sufficient 2013. these imperatives have resulted in numerous conflicts between need maximize income leasing historic buildings, , permitting public use despite structures being rented privately. further differences have arisen divergent needs of preserving integrity of national historic landmark district in face of new construction, competing pressures natural habitat restoration, , requirements commercial purposes impede public access. of 2007, there rudimentary visitors center orient visitors presidio s history.

crissy field, former airfield, has undergone extensive restoration , serves popular recreational area. borders on san francisco marina in east , on golden gate bridge in west.

elevation data of historic presidio officers club, derived laser scan project conducted nonprofit cyark



the old coast guard station , golden gate bridge

the park has large inventory of approximately 800 buildings, many of them historical. 2004, 50% of buildings on park grounds had been restored , partially remodeled. presidio trust has contracted commercial real estate management companies attract , retain residential , commercial tenants. total capacity estimated @ 5,000 residents when buildings have been rehabilitated. among presidio s residents bay school of san francisco, private coeducational college preparatory school located in central main post area. others include gordon , betty moore foundation, tides foundation, arion press, sports basement presidio, , walt disney family museum, museum in memory of walt disney. many various commercial enterprises lease buildings on presidio, including starbucks coffee. san francisco art institute maintained small student housing program in presidio s macarthur neighborhood 2002 2007.

sections of letterman army hospital preserved thoreau center sustainability.

the presidio of san francisco u.s. national recreation area extensive residential leasing program.

the presidio has 4 creeks being restored park stewards , volunteers expand former extents of riparian habitats. creeks lobos , dragonfly creeks, el polin spring, , coyote gulch.

recent developments

presidio parkway construction seen storey avenue in october 2013.

the trust entered major agreement lucasfilm build new facility called letterman digital arts center (ldac), lucasfilm s corporate headquarters. site replaced portions of letterman hospital. george lucas won development rights 15 acres (6.1 ha) of presidio, in june 1999, after beating out number of rival plans including leading proposal shorenstein company. ldac replaced former lucasfilm headquarters in san rafael. $300 million development includes 900,000 square feet (84,000 m) of office space , 150,000-square-foot (14,000 m) underground parking garage capacity of 2,500 employees. lucasfilm s industrial light & magic, lucas licensing, , lucas online divisions reside @ site. george lucas s proposal included plans high-tech presidio museum , 7-acre (2.8 ha) great lawn open public.

in 2007, donald fisher, founder of gap clothing stores , former board member of presidio trust, announced plan build 100,000-square-foot (9,300 m) museum tentatively named contemporary art museum of presidio, house art collection. fisher s plan encountered widespread skepticism , outright hostility amongst san francisco preservationists, local residents, national park service, presidio trust, , city officials saw presidio site hallowed ground. due such criticism, fisher withdrew plans build museum in presidio , instead donated art san francisco museum of modern art before death in 2009.

an aerial view of presidio

as doyle drive viaduct deemed seismically unsafe , obsolete, construction started on demolition of doyle drive in 2008 replace structure flat, broad-lane highway tunnel through bluffs above crissy field, called presidio parkway. project costs $1 billion , scheduled completed 2016.

the trust plans create promenade link lombard gate , new lucasfilm campus main post , golden gate bridge. promenade part of trails expansion plan add 24 miles (39 km) of new pathways , 8 scenic overlooks throughout park.

in october 2008, artist andy goldsworthy constructed new sculpture spire in presidio. 100 feet (30 m) tall , located near arguello gate. represents tree replanting effort has been underway @ presidio.

in 2010, trampoline park called house of air built using old aircraft hangar.

as presidio has reached point of self-sufficiency, final set of buildings under renovation. fort scott home new national center service , innovative leadership. in july 2013, first youth program piloted @ center in partnership national youth leadership council. national youth leadership training serves diverse mix of high school aged students across country develop leadership skills , learn educational inequity in america.