Cultural Landscape Report for Fort Mason, vol. I, Site History, Existing Conditions and Analysis, Golden Gate NRA

Hoke, Amy; Foulds, H Eliot

The Fort Mason landscape is generally understood to contain two primary zones: Upper Fort mason is the older of the two. This area was first occupied by the Ohlone, and later served as the site of the 18th century Spanish battery and 19th century American coast artillery post. Lower Fort Mason, the second zone, consists of the wharves and sheds built on filled land reclaimed from the bay in the early 20th century. These facilities at Lower Fort Mason, beginning in 1911, became an important component of the Army’s Port of Embarkation- expediting personnel and material into the Pacific. While this report deals with the property in its entirety, its geographical focus is Upper Fort Mason, where pressing management issues have called for the information found in this report. This area represents approximately 55 acres of the entire 68.5-acre site. Found within this area are historic plantings and historic structures first designated as a National Register of Historic Places District in 1972. The analysis and evaluation contained herein compares the findings of the site history with existing conditions to identify significant landscape characteristics and features in an effort to more fully understand these parts of the landscape within their historical context. The ultimate purpose of this is to inform careful stewardship of this historic property. Lower Fort Mason, by contrast, is dominated by large structures and paved surfaces and is already well documented by a Historic Structures Report (HSR) focused on this area. Research in preparation of this report has focused on local sources in San Francisco, including the park archives, local historical organizations and the University of California at Berkeley’s Bancroft Library. In addition, limited research was conducted at the National Archives and Records Administration facility in College Park, Maryland. The preparation of the historical site narrative rests on the solid foundation of Thompson and others associated with the former NPS Branch of Historic Preservation, Pacific Northwest/Western Team of the Denver Service Center. An assessment of existing landscape conditions follows the site history in this report, presented through narrative text, photographs, and drawings. Plan documentation consists of revisions to existing topographic surveys made through field observation. This report will reference Fort Mason’s vast inventory of structures according to the numbering system and architectural data provided in the NPS List of Classified Structures, but it should be understood that the primary emphasis of this report remains the documentation of general landscape conditions. Landscape Analysis and Evaluation begins with a summary of current National Register and National Historic Landmark documentation and suggests additional historical contexts where appropriate. Historical themes and contexts are presented in relationship to National Register criteria and definitions. This chapter identifies and summarizes the period of historical significance for the landscape as a whole. Landscape Features are evaluated in order to determine which features contribute to the significance of the site and which do not. This narrative is organized into geographic areas representing Fort Mason’s nine landscape character areas.

Cultural Landscape Report for Fort Mason, vol. I, Site History, Existing Conditions and Analysis, Golden Gate NRA

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