Officers Club Celebrates Anniversary with Free Public Events
Free music, lectures and performances will take place on Thursday and Friday nights
Presidio of San Francisco (September 23, 2015) – The Presidio Officers’ Club (Officers’ Club) will celebrate the first anniversary of its reopening in October, coinciding with California Archaeology Month and the launch of a new slate of free public programs. Established in 1776 by Spanish explorers and serving as an elite gathering place for Army brass throughout the 20th century, the Officers’ Club re-opened to the public on October 4, 2014 following a three-year rehabilitation led by the Presidio Trust. San Francisco’s most historic building is now a beloved cultural destination welcoming more than 100,000 visitors to its historical gallery, and 3,300 school children through its K-10 field trip program in its first year.
“We are so pleased to see the Officers’ Club alive with a bustle of locals, school groups and other visitors,” said Joshua Steinberger, Chief of Strategy and Communications for the Presidio Trust, “It is once again the social and cultural center of the Presidio and the perfect way to start or end your visit to the park.”
More than 25,000 visitors have enjoyed the Officers’ Club 200 free events annually, including live music and dance performances, talks and lectures, hands on arts and crafts for kids, and field trip programs. The venue is as loved by artists as it is by the community, welcoming return visits from many acclaimed talents. Free music, lectures and performance take place on Thursday and Friday nights in the beautiful Moraga Hall.
“The atmosphere of the Officers’ Club is completely unique,” said John Santos, renowned jazz musician and multi-Grammy Award nominee. “It’s an honor to perform in such a beautiful and historic venue, the acoustics are superb, and the warmth of the audiences is overwhelming.” Santos and his sextet were one of the highlights of the 2014-2015 season, and returned in September.
Special programs will be offered throughout the month of October in recognition of the Officers’ Club anniversary, including: a concert featuring ensembles from the San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music (SFFCM) Ensembles in Residence program; “Daliwood – Salvador Dali’s California Years,” a presentation by curator Ted Nicolaou in association with the Walt Disney Family Museum; Jill Tracy’s “In the Footsteps of Spirits: Legends of the Presidio Ghosts,” and a special Halloween Dance, “The Masquerade Macabre – Do You Dare?”
The Officers’ Club anniversary corresponds with California Archaeology Month. Visitors can learn about the Presidio archaeology program by visiting the El Presidio dig site to see archaeologists in action, make a Spanish tile at Creative Family Fun, or tour the archaeology artifact collection. The 4,000 square foot Presidio Heritage Gallery offers interactive exhibits that provide context, encourage exploration, and establish a deeper understanding of the Presidio and its vital role in San Francisco and world history. The gallery displays one-of-a-kind artifacts, many of which were discovered on the Presidio.
Other highlights of the fall schedule include: Holiday Tamale Making with Chef Traci Des Jardins on December 3. Ms. Des Jardins oversees the Trust’s restaurant, Arguello, named after Luis Antonio Arguello, who served as commander in the Presidio from 1806 to 1822. The restaurant features Mexican cuisine and a contemporary bar with craft cocktails.
The Presidio Officers’ Club is located in the Presidio of San Francisco at 50 Moraga Avenue (at Arguello Boulevard) on the Main Post and is open to visitors every day except Monday. Details at Presidio Officers’ Club.
The Presidio Trust, a federal agency, is an innovation in the management of a treasured American place. The Trust was created to save the Presidio and transform it for a new national purpose. The Trust’s vision is that the Presidio will be forever a public place: vital to the Bay Area, important to all Americans, and recognized for achieving broad benefits for the nation. Today, the Presidio welcomes visitors, is home to a vibrant community of residents and tenants, and inspires greater good through programs that draw on its history and natural resources. The Presidio Trust serves the public with events, lodging, venues, and recreational opportunities. To learn more, visit www.presidio.gov.