National Park Service:

1994 to the Present

From a proud past to a bright future

In 1972, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area was created, and the Presidio was designated to be part of the recreation area if the military ever closed the base. As part of a military base reduction program in 1989, Congress decided to close the post. As such, the Presidio was transferred to the National Park Service on October 1, 1994. At the time of its closure, the Presidio was the oldest continuously operating military base in the country, containing a National Historic Landmark District with more than 500 buildings of historic value. Following transfer of the post, the National Park Service involved the community in a planning process that resulted in a General Management Plan for the Presidio. This plan calls for not only preserving and protecting the parks resources, but for bringing together organizations that focus on finding solutions to environmental, cultural and social issues of global significance.

The Presidio Trust

Two years after the National Park Service took control of the Presidio, the U.S. Congress established the Presidio Trust to transform the post into a financially self sufficient park by the year 2013, while at the same time preserving its natural, scenic and historic resources. This type of park management organization has never been tried but is deemed essential for generating sufficient revenue to pay for the costly upkeep of the historic structures. On July 1, 1998, management of the non-coastal areas of the Presidio was transferred to the Trust, which will lease the property in a manner that supports the objectives of the General Management Plan. Thus, the Presidio enters the 21st century as a new kind of park, one dedicated not only to preserving the past but also to shaping the future.

For more information future plans, visit the Presidio Trust web site.