THE DAILY KERNEL

For more reference material on Presidio History and the Main Post SEIS please check out the Presidio Historical Association’s website at: 

http://www.presidioassociation.org/

They’re also now listed under TDK Friends on this website.

–Doug Kern

Tags: History by Doug
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I wanted to clarify a point made on my Presidio History post. I noted that in 1906, Funston took command of the city. I did understand that martial law was not declared and that the things he did at that time, the city did ask him to do. I have modified my post to now read “1906 Funston, in command of the Presidio, provides leadership when 1906 earthquake hits.”

I am happy to make this clarification and appreciate the comment.

–Doug Kern

Tags: History by Doug
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On Monday I outlined the Presidio’s history and its relationship to national and world events. There is an arc of history here, a trajectory, that we need to consider as we select projects to undertake. The point is to suggest that the Presidio has always been a place where people have responded to the major issues of the day. The future will be no different. Due to its location and relative spaciousness it is well-suited to respond to future needs. What will those future needs be? Here are some thoughts.

• Emergency response. Disaster relief. The Presidio has already served this role during the 1906 earthquake and fire. I’m sure it will in the future. We could actually plan for such contingencies and make the Presidio ready to respond in case of a major emergency.
• Food supplies. The Presidio once contained victory gardens to supply those on site. Could we imagine the Presidio offering demonstration gardens to show people how to live sustainably in San Francisco? Could we imagine farmer’s markets to bring people together, share ideas, provide needed food from area local farmers. The farmer’s market at the Ferry Building brings 10-15,000 people on a Saturday. Clearly, there is demand.
• Parking and transportation. Shouldn’t we be working on these problems at the Presidio rather adding to them? Can we imagine pilot projects of all kinds that would showcase new ideas and test them? Instead of designing for an influx of cars and parking areas, shouldn’t we be thinking of new ways of getting around?
• Energy. Peak oil. We use, as a country, roughly 21 million barrels of oil per day, approximately 25% of world production or 85 million barrels per day. That means, the United States uses around 7.7 billion barrels of oil per year. We hear a lot about drilling in ANWR. That site could provide, by some estimates, as much as 10 billion barrels of oil. Wow. An entire year and a half of oil. Oil prices are going out of sight and will continue to go out of sight because we will soon not have access to easy and cheap energy. We have, by some estimates, reached Peak Oil. Shouldn’t we pay attention to energy use, particularly at this national park? Shouldn’t we examine the use of alternative energy here?

These are some of the major issues of our day. There are other pressing problems…un-ending wars, water quality and supply, health care, poverty. In the context of these major issues and how the Presidio has responded in the past, how does installing a contemporary art museum fit in that picture?

Tags: Conflict, History by Doug
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State Historic Preservation Officer, Milford Wayne Donaldson, offered the following critique to Craig Middleton, regarding the Presidio Trust’s decision to delay releasing the Finding of Effects (FOE) under the 106 consultation for the Main Post.

Your decision to delay release of the FOE is regrettable because it puts the Section 106 process and NEPA process out of phase.

And this:

By releasing the DEIS prior to arriving at agreement on effects, you have denied the public the ability to appreciate the effects of the undertaking on historic properties, which, of course, is the purpose of the FOE under Section 106.

Read the entire letter (2 pages pdf).

–Doug Kern

Tags: History, New Construction by Doug
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In bullet* form:

• Pre 1776         Ohlone stewardship of Presidio
• 1776-1792     Spanish occupation, 1st European settlement site within San Francisco
• 1792-1845     Spanish/Mexican occupation. The colony took on a more permanent character by 1812. With Mexico declaring independence from Spain in 1821 Presidio became a Mexican colony. All later development based on the grid established by the 1812 quadrangle.
• 1846-1860     Army claims California for United States, takes possession of Presidio.
• 1849               Gold discovered.
• 1861-1870     Presidio secures California and gold shipments for United States.
• 1870-1891     Post Civil War, Army expands Presidio to be a more imposing presence.
• 1891-1908     Presidio becomes nationally prominent military base.
• 1898               Spanish American war. Presidio is command center for the Pacific Theater.
• 1898               First general hospital established (Letterman)
• 1902               African American units of US Army stationed at the Presidio to patrol California’s national parks before the establishment of the National Park Service.
• 1906               Funston, in command of the Presidio, provides leadership when 1906 earthquake hits. Presidio is a refugee center after the 1906 earthquake.   
• 1914-1918     World War I Command center for US Army in the Pacific during World War I.
• 1915               Symbolizing San Francisco’s rebirth after the earthquake, Presidio is part of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition
• 1921-1940     Peace and restoration. Army became smaller, post active for training. Doyle Drive constructed to connect with Golden Gate Bridge.
• 1941-1945     World War II.  Command for Pacific Theater. Major construction period.
• 1945-1989     Cold War. Korean War. Vietnam. Main Post was the command for Sixth Army. 
• 1995               Presidio becomes a national park, at that time thought to be dedicated to addressing the world’s most critical environmental, social and cultural challenges.
• 1996               Presidio Trust Act
• 2005               Lucas Digital Arts Center opens.
• 2008               Trust proposes Contemporary Modern Art Museum be built at the head of the main parade ground.

Tags: History, New Construction by Doug
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