San Francisco - Presidio National Park

Presidio National Park is a large area at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was originally an army base for over 200 years, operating under the Spanish, the Mexicans, and the Americans. In 1994 it became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is now fully accessible to the public.

There is an extensive list of historical sites at the Presidio that history and military buffs will enjoy.

Must-see attractions nearby:

If you're looking for some activity, the Presidio has hiking trails, some of which offer fantastic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, a golf course, bowling alley, and tennis courts. There are also guided tours and different scheduled events in the park. Information can be obtained from the visitor's center.
The name "Presidio" goes back to 1776 when Spanish troops were first quartered on this site. This wooded stretch of land which covers some 1,500acres/600hectares lies on the northern extremity of the San Francisco peninsula jutting out into the Pacific.

Address

Presidio
Visitor Center, Building 102, Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94129
United States

Phone 1 (415) 561-4323

Fax 1 (415) 561-4310

http://www.nps.gov/prsf/

Hours

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	9:00	9:00	9:00	9:00	9:00	9:00	9:00
Close	17:00	17:00	17:00	17:00	17:00	17:00	17:00

Always closed on:

New Year's Day (January 1)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)

Tips

Opening hours and holidays refer to the visitor center. Guided tours Tel. 921-8193 in advance.

Transit

Bus 28.

Related Attractions

Congregation Emanu-El

The dome of the Temple Emanu-El was inspired by the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Fine Museum of Congregation Emanu-El features changing exhibits including Jewish-American identity, contemporary Jewish holidays and rituals, and religious practices in Israel.

Address

Congregation Emanu-El
2 Lake Street
San Francisco, CA 94118-1423
United States

Phone 1 (415) 751-2535

Fax 1 (415) 751-2511

http://www.emanuelsf.org

Tips

No photography during services.

Holy Virgin Cathedral

The Holy Virgin Cathedral is a Russian Orthodox Cathedral built amid controversy in the 1960's. The five onion-shaped domes are covered in 24-karat gold leaf. The cathedral's entrance features immense bronze doors and three mosaic portraits of saints, with more gold leaf and mosaic figures inside the cathedral.

Facilities

Gift shop

Transit

Bus: 2, 29, 38.

Presidio Army Museum

Situated on Lincoln Boulevard (junction with Funston Avenue) is the Presidio Army Museum, housed in an old military hospital dating from 1857. There are exhibitions of relics and documents which illustrate the part played by the military in the development of San Francisco.

Disabled

Full facilities for persons with disabilities.

Presidio Officers' Open Mess

The Presidio Officers' Open Mess is located on the site of the 1821-30 comandancia of the Mexican fort. In the 1930s the building was remodeled into a Spanish Colonial Revival style structure. Today it houses the National Park Service visitor center and numerous traveling cultural exhibits.

Transit

Bus: 29.

San Francisco National Cemetery

The National Military Cemetery in San Francisco is part of the Presidio. It has a burial ground where lie more than 15,000 who died in the First World War. Also noteworthy is the gravestone of "Pauline Tyler, Union Spy". She was an actress who served as a Union spy during the course of the American Civil War, winning promotion to the rank of major.

Address

San Francisco National Cemetery
Presidio of San Francisco, Box 29012
San Francisco, CA 94129
United States

Phone 1 (650) 589-7737

Fax 1 (650) 873-6578

http://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/sanfrancisco.asp

Hours

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	7:00	7:00	7:00	7:00	7:00	7:00	7:00
Close	17:00	17:00	17:00	17:00	17:00	17:00	17:00

Tips

San Francisco National Cemetery is closed to new interments.