The Presidio of San Francisco was originally the site of a Spanish fort, built 1776. Seized by the gringos during Manifest Destiny in 1848, the Presidio remained a military base for the next 147 years, making it the longest continuously-operated base in the United States.
Now in the hands of the Presidio Trust in conjunction with the National Park System, the Presidio is undergoing a transformation. Sections have been converted into commercial spaces, like the old Letterman hospital has become the home of the Letterman Digital Arts Center and Lucasfilm. The Presidio today is a balancing act between being financially self sufficient and an open public space.
Walking in the door to the Officer’s Club is like entering a ghost town, so I wander around thinking of how best to photograph a group of 75. I suddenly realized as I take a few snapshots of the room, how much I have grown as a photographer. Much like the Presidio I have transformed myself into something half commercial and half artistic.
Now in the hands of the Presidio Trust in conjunction with the National Park System, the Presidio is undergoing a transformation. Sections have been converted into commercial spaces, like the old Letterman hospital has become the home of the Letterman Digital Arts Center and Lucasfilm. The Presidio today is a balancing act between being financially self sufficient and an open public space.
Walking in the door to the Officer’s Club is like entering a ghost town, so I wander around thinking of how best to photograph a group of 75. I suddenly realized as I take a few snapshots of the room, how much I have grown as a photographer. Much like the Presidio I have transformed myself into something half commercial and half artistic.
