Presidio of San Francisco

Address:San Francisco, California
Tel: (415) 561-4323

Experience the beauty and wonder of one of the oldest military structures in North America at the Presidio of San Francisco. This former Spanish fort is located on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, and offers hiking, breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay, and guided tours of the fort grounds.

Originally built in 1776 by the Spanish, the Presidio of San Francisco was seized by the U.S. Army in 1846 and became home to several army headquarters and units, the last of which was the United States 6th Army. In 1995, the Presidio of San Francisco was closed as a military base and transferred to the authority of the National Park Service.

Today, visitors to the Presidio of San Francisco can explore museums and historic sites from every period of American history. There are a variety of guided tours at the Presidio of San Francisco, lasting between half an hour and two hours, depending on which tour you choose. The Presidio of San Francisco also features 11 miles of hiking trails along the Golden Gate Promenade, the Coastal Trails, and portions of the Bay Area Ridge Trail and Anza National Historic Trail, among others; outstanding fishing and crabbing opportunities; and a wide variety of sports facilities, including a golf course, a bowling alley, and tennis courts. For kids, the Presidio of San Francisco offers "Kids on Trails," a self-guided tour book for the Presidio's Ecology Trail, and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which serves as one of the nation's largest and most inspiring outdoor classrooms, with staff committed to helping children learn about the environment and history of the area. After touring the Presidio of San Francisco, visitors can treat themselves to any of the dozen restaurants on-site, including a café and French brasserie.

To get to the Presidio of San Francisco, visitors should take Highway 1 or 101 South across the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway 101 West by way of Lombard Street, or Highway 1 North. Alternatively, the San Francisco Municipal Railway buses run to the Presidio of San Francisco on the 28, 29, 43 and 82X lines. Come visit the Presidio of San Francisco and experience the awe-inspiring grace of this majestic fort!