Archaeology

The Presidio archaeology program explores, preserves, and shares the history beneath our feet.

The Presidio archaeology program explores, preserves, and shares the extraordinary historical record just beneath our feet.

The Presidio Trust manages more than 30 archaeological areas within the Presidio National Historic Landmark District (NHLD). These offer a long-term history of these lands – from the Indigenous Ramaytush Ohlone village that was here hundreds of years ago through the occupation of the U.S. Army.

Through our behind-the-scenes work and public programs, we preserve the sites so the public can learn from and enjoy them forever.

National Historic Preservation Act

When the Presidio transitioned from a U.S. Army post to a national park site, its National Historic Landmark District status was updated to include all of the park’s important historic resources.

In addition to the buildings and cultural landscapes, more than 30 archaeological areas were found to be significant. These areas include the cornerstone of the Presidio Trust’s public archaeology program – the Spanish Colonial site El Presidio de San Francisco.

A male staff member holds a ruler at a Presidio archaeology site while talking to people.

It also includes less well-known sites: forgotten cemeteries, shipwrecks, Indigenous shell mounds, and coastal fortifications. All of these help us understand American history and are protected under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

Presidio Trust archaeologists preserve these sites and avoid disruption during park improvement projects. We conduct investigation and research before projects begin and observe construction to make sure sensitive sites are protected.

Aerial view of the El Presidio de San Francisco archaeology site. — The El Presidio de San Francisco archaeology site at Pershing Square.

Public Excavation at the Historic Presidio

The Presidio is one of the only national park sites in the country with an active archaeological dig, and it is home to the largest public archaeology project west of the Mississippi.

El Presidio de San Francisco – located near the Presidio Officers’ Club – is the only one of four Spanish fortifications and twenty-one missions in California located in a national park.

That means we can teach a large audience about this irreplaceable resource, the Spanish Colonial period in our nation’s heritage, as well as the methods of archaeology, history, and related sciences.

Visitors at the El Presidio archaeology dig site. — Photo by Dan Friedman.

Presidio Archaeology Lab

The Presidio Archaeology Lab, located next to the Presidio Officers’ Club, is where a lively community engages in the stewardship of the Presidio’s rich archaeological heritage.

The lab demonstrates leadership in the field of archaeology through partnerships which develop innovative approaches to research, education, and preservation that enhance the understanding of our shared cultural heritage.

The lab’s goals are:

Create a compelling destination at the site of El Presidio de San Francisco that instills visitors with the imaginative tools necessary to explore a broader range of the American experience.
Encourage a sense of collective ownership of the past and this park, by involving diverse members of the public in all our programs and enabling them to make their own connections to this place.
Preserve the integrity of the archaeological sites, features, and artifacts, which form the foundation of our programs, ensuring that authentic experiences are available to future generations.