096: San Francisco Presidio with Archaeologist Kari Jones and Historian Rob Thomson Part 2

The story of the Presidio didn't end with Spain or Mexico—it was only beginning.

In the second half of my conversation with Rob Thomson, Federal Preservation Officer, and Kari Jones, archaeologist with the Presidio Trust, we explore the remarkable transformation of the Presidio of San Francisco from a remote Mexican frontier outpost into one of the most important military installations on the West Coast—and ultimately into one of America's most innovative national parks.

We discuss how the U.S. Army reshaped the Presidio after 1846, introducing new architecture, forests, hospitals, airfields, and coastal defenses that reflected changing military priorities from the Civil War through the Cold War. We also examine Fort Point, Castillo de San Joaquín, the evolution of military technology, and the Presidio's role in conflicts ranging from the Civil War to World War II.

The conversation concludes with the extraordinary story of how the Presidio escaped the fate of many former military bases. Rather than falling into disrepair, it became a model for historic preservation through the creation of the Presidio Trust, whose innovative self-supporting approach has preserved hundreds of historic buildings while creating one of the nation's most vibrant urban parks.

Whether you're interested in California history, military history, architecture, archaeology, or the preservation of historic places, this episode offers a fascinating look at one of the most important historic landscapes in the United States.

If you enjoy the episode, please like, subscribe, and share to help more people discover the rich and often overlooked history of California.

Learn about the Presidio Trust

• 00:00 – The Presidio's Transition to American Control
• 02:55 – What the Presidio Looked Like in 1848
• 05:35 – Spanish Revival Architecture and the World's Fair
• 07:15 – Castillo de San Joaquín and the Defense of San Francisco Bay
• 11:55 – Fort Point and America's New Coastal Fortress
• 13:30 – The Presidio's Growth as a Major U.S. Army Base
• 17:30 – The Presidio in the Civil War, World Wars, and Cold War
• 21:00 – From Military Base to National Park
• 25:15 – Historic Buildings, Adaptive Reuse, and the Presidio Today
• 28:05 – Famous People, Defining Moments, and Why the Presidio Matters