Golden Gate National Recreation Area Agency Timeline

Agency History

The history of People for a Golden Gate National Recreation Area is tied up with the history of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Below is a timeline of some of the important events in the history of the park and the organization. [Excerpted from: The Park That Makes Its Own Weather: An Administrative History of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Hal Rothman, 2002]

Timeline

1971

January - PFGGNRA founded from a protest group formed by Amy Meyer in response to the proposed National Archives at East Fort Miley.

June 16 - Rep. Phillip Burton introduced expansive proposal for national recreation area in the Bay Area. Plan included Park Service veto power over future Presidio developments by the US Army.

August 9 - House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreation held hearings in San Francisco on H.R. 9498 and related bills.

1972

May 11-12 - House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreation held hearings in Washington, D.C. on H.R. 9498 and related bills.

July 28 - House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreation passed bill authored by Rep. Phillip Burton to establish a 20,000-acre Golden Gate National Urban Recreation Area.

October 11 - House approved bill establishing the 34,000-acre Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

October 27 - President Nixon signed “An Act to Establish the Golden Gate NationalRecreation Area,” (Public Law 92-589), which established the GGNRA. Bill allocated $61,610,000 for land acquisition and $58,000,000 for development. On the same day,William Whalen was given responsibility for administering GGNRA, Point Reyes National Seashore, Muir Woods National Monument, and Fort Point National Historic Site. National Park Service acquires Alcatraz Island and Fort Mason.

December - Gulf Oil Corporation sold Marincello property to The Nature Conservancy. Marin Citizens formed the Marin Headlands Association, designed to persuade the state to purchase all surplus lands along the south rim for safekeeping. It is this land that would be combined with Alcatraz and San Francisco Headlands to form initial basis for park.

1974

December 26 - President Ford signed Public Law 93-544, which added 750 acres of contiguous private lands in Marin County to GGNRA.

1975

May - PFGGNRA and NPS unveiled plans for expanding GGNRA south into San Mateo County. June 10 - City of San Francisco officially turned over 91.5 acres of city parklands to GGNRA, involving lands around Fort Miley, Lands End, and portions of Lincoln Park excluding the golf course.

1976

May - The Fort Mason Foundation was created and given responsibility for guiding and shaping the development of abandoned warehouses and piers into a cultural center.

1977

GGNRA acquired Cliff House for $3.79 million.

September 16 - San Francisco Maritime State Historical Park added to GGNRA.

October 1 - Point Reyes National Seashore separated from GGNRA.

1978

San Francisco Maritime Museum added to GGNRA.

November 10 - Public Law 96-625 expands park by adding nearly 3,000 acres in Marin County under the “National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978.”

1980

March 5 - Public Law 96-199 added lands in Marin County to GGNRA by extending park boundaries eight miles north to include Samuel P. Taylor State Park and Gallagher, Ottinger and Giacomini ranches.

September 8 - Public Law 96-344 added 1,096 acres to GGNRA in Marin County.

December 28 - Public Law 96-199 expanded GGNRA into San Mateo County and along the coast to Half Moon Bay (2,000) acres by including 23,000 acres of Sweeney Ridge.

1982

U.S. Air Force released all by 2.5 acres of its 106.4 acre site atop Mount Tamalpais in Marin County to the NPS. Golden Gate National Park Association established.

1983

Congressman Phil Burton dies.

1985

San Francisco Port of Embarkation designated a National Historic Landmark. Balclutha and Eureka designated National Historic Landmarks.

1988

June 27 - Public Law 100-348 created the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (SAFR) and transferred the museum and historic ships from GOGA to the new park.

December 29 - Presidio of San Francisco on the list of military bases recommended for realignment or closure under “Base Realignment and Closure Act,” Public Law 100-526.

1989

Bay Area Ridge Trail is dedicated.

April - Congress approved “Base Realignment and Closure Act,” with Presidio closure no later than September 1995.

1992

June 9 - Public Law 102-29 added Phleger Estate to GGNRA.

1993

March - Army relinquished management of Presidio Forest, Lobos Creek Valley, and Coastal Bluffs to NPS.

September - NPS assumed complete control of Crissy Field.

1994

September 30 - U.S. Army transferred all remaining parts of the Presidio to the NPS.