The Presidio’s land tells a story of people, place, and dynamic change.

Over millennia the Presidio’s geology, topography, and climates created a mosaic of natural landscapes. Many generations shaped these wilds, from the Native Americans who were first sustained here to the Spanish, Mexican, and American settlers who brought their traditions and created an enduring military presence at the Golden Gate. Our nation’s history is visible in the natural dunes, marshes, and woodlands, as well as in the planted forest groves of this post turned park.

The Presidio is an oasis of nature in the city. The Army’s two-century presence here precluded the kind of intense development witnessed elsewhere in the San Francisco Bay Area. Today, the Presidio Trust is restoring habitat and wildlife areas according to the guidelines established in the Presidio Vegetation Management Plan. The park’s open spaces offer tremendous opportunities for volunteerism, education, recreation, and exploration.