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I woke up on New Years Day, 2015, with nary a hangover and anticipation of a brand new year – unspoiled – undented and fresh. I spent New Years Eve on a boat in Sausalito and heard that there was a very large boat anchored at the north end of town. My partner and I took a leisurely drive through the streets of Sausalito and after viewing the boat, which was actually more like a ship, we decided to venture on down to Fort Baker.

One of the things that is really awesome about Fort Baker, (Golden Gate National Park Area) is the underbelly view of the Golden Gate Bridge.  This is quite a different experience than driving across the Golden Gate.  What a magnificent bridge!

After that we drove around the Presidio of San Francisco. The Presidio has a rich history for defense dating back to the 1700s.

“People have always been drawn to the land around San Francisco, because of its sheltered harbor and its rich natural resources. Overtime, as different communities settled here, they would defend their stake in the land against other potential invaders. The Spanish established the Presidio of San Francisco in 1776 to protect their interests in the bay. In 1822, Mexico took over this land from Spain, but later they abandoned the Presidio fort and moved their central government up to Sonoma County. After the United States took control of California in 1848, the U.S. Army began to construct permanent posts and seacoast fortification.”  You can read more about it here http://www.nps.gov/goga/historyculture/seacoast-defenses.htm.

Another part of the Presidio includes the rennovation of the former Army post which is Cavallo Point  http://www.cavallopoint.com/. It is a well known place – luxury resort – for travelers all over the world.

Here is a snapshot of what to expect:

“Experience the rich history of Fort Baker, a former U.S. Army post, with a stay in one of our impeccably restored historic guestrooms. These historic buildings – formerly officers’ residences – are located on expansive green space encircling the parade ground with hillside or San Francisco skyline views.  Cavallo Point has been honored with numerous awards for its historic renovation and preservation efforts.”

And how they came to be:

Originally inhabited by the coastal Miwok tribes, Horseshoe Cove became home to Fort Baker long before there was a Golden Gate Bridge. In 1866, the U.S. Army acquired the site for a military base to fortify the north side of the Golden Gate. The 24 buildings around the 10-acre parade ground at Fort Baker took shape between 1901 and 1915. The Army post remained active through World War II.

From Post to Park

In 1973 Fort Baker was listed as a Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places. When the Golden Gate National Parks were established in 1972, Fort Baker was designated for transfer to the National Park Service when no longer needed by the military. In 2002 Fort Baker transferred officially from post to park.

While wandering around the grounds I found a valet that took a few minutes to describe the history of this old Army post.  Me, being an Air Force “brat,” and having lived in Sonoma County most of my life, but born on Hamilton Air Force Base, was thrilled to hear that a great deal of pride and care had been taken to restore these buildings.  I was also informed that there is a butterfly preserve on the grounds, they promote sustainability, and contribute a portion of the fees they collect from hotel travelers to donate to a nonprofit organization.

It is always fun to learn about the area I live in (and often take for granted.)  It doesn’t cost any money to ask questions and usually people are willing to share their knowledge.

Please feel free to leave a comment.  I enjoy the feedback.

Happy 2015!