Before there was San Francisco, there was the Presidio. First occupied by the Ohlone people for thousands of years, the Presidio was later a military post for two centuries under the flags of Spain, Mexico and finally the United States. Today, the Presidio is a national park and a National Historic Landmark District that welcomes more than five million visitors each year. On its grounds, you can visit the Walt Disney Museum, enjoy a picnic on the Main Parade Ground, honor the sacrifice of our brave soldiers at the Korean War Memorial, hike 24 miles of trails, enjoy historical landmarks such as MacArthur Meadows, appreciate art and culture, the views at Battery East Vista, and much more.
The Presidio features a 300-acre historic forest planted by the U.S. Army beginning in the 1880s. There are about 60,000 trees in the park today. The park also shelters 13 distinctive plant communities supporting 300 native plant species, ranging from wildflowers to oak woodlands. Sixteen species are rare or endangered, including five protected by the Endangered Species Act. Examples include the San Francisco lessingia and the Presidio clarkia (wildflowers found in only two locations worldwide), and the Raven's manzanita.
It's land is home to a variety of mammals, reptiles, aquatic species, and invertebrates. These include native gray fox, the San Francisco alligator lizard, the three-spined stickleback fish, and 30 kinds of butterflies. Bring binoculars! More than 300 bird species are seen at the, including year-round residents like Anna's Hummingbirds, Red-shouldered Hawks, Great Egrets, and Great Horned Owls to migratory species like Violet-green Swallows and Red-throated Loons. El Polin Spring and Crissy Marsh are great places for birdwatching.
As part of larger environmental restoration efforts, the Presidio Trust planned a project called the Presidio Tunnel Tops. This historic effort created a 14-acre park that connected the Main Post of the former military base to Crissy Field. The project beautifully complements and connects open space and parks making the space accessible to all, a vital benefit to the well-being of our community.
The Presidio is managed by the Presidio Trust, in partnership with the National Park Service. In addition to raising philanthropic funds, the non-profit Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy works with the Presidio Trust and National Park Service to offer stewardship and educational programs.
