Andy Goldsworthy's Spire
Evoking the form of a natural skyscraper, Spire is an inspiring outdoor sculpture.
Working with the Presidio Trust forestry crew, in 2008 Goldsworthy selected 37 Monterey cypress trunks from aging trees felled at the site as part of the park’s reforestation program. He then meticulously fastened them together. Planted around its 15-foot-wide base are young cypress trees that will ultimately grow to obscure the sculpture – like the old forest welcoming the new.
Getting to Spire
Andy Goldsworthy's Spire
Parking
Parking near Spire is available in the Presidio Golf Course parking lot and at Inspiration Point Overlook across Arguello Boulevard (time limit three hours).
Why We Love Andy Goldsworthy's Spire
This natural landmark is a marvelous punctuation mark on Presidio’s iconic Bay Area Ridge Trail, where it serves as a beacon of beauty and tranquility.
Accessibility at Spire
Access Spire along the unpaved Bay Area Ridge Trail. There is tree trunk bench seating at the sculpture. A parking space for those with mobility limitations can be found at the Presidio Golf Course lot next to the Bay Area Ridge Trail trailhead. Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are available at Presidio Golf Course.
Insider Tip
The Presidio is the home to the largest collection of Andy Goldsworthy works on public view in North America. Experience all four of his installations – Spire, Tree Fall, Wood Line, and Earth Wall — by hiking on a three-mile loop led by the Goldsworthy in the Presidio guide. The walk encompasses parts of Lovers’ Lane, the Mountain Lake Trail, and the Ecology Trail.
The Andy Goldsworthy's Spire Experience
Spire makes an impression — and it has become a beloved Presidio destination.
The Spark for Spire
The idea for Spire was sparked when Andy Goldsworthy first visited the Presidio in 2006 and learned about the revitalization of the park’s aging historic forest, first planted by the U.S. Army beginning in the 1880s. He returned two years later to create the sculpture, the first of four he would produce here.
Calling Out to Other San Francisco Landmarks
Spire engages in a silent “call and response” with the other local legends visible from the site – the Transamerica Pyramid, Sutro Tower, and church spires, to name a few.
A Partnership Project
Spire was made possible through the FOR-SITE Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the idea that art can inspire fresh thinking and important dialogue about our natural and cultural environment. For more, visit the FOR-SITE website.
Making Andy Goldsworthy's Spire
The making of Spire was an incredible engineering feat – above ground and below – accomplished with the artist, the Presidio Trust forestry crew, and engineering experts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Right here! In 2008, artist Andy Goldsworthy worked closely with the Presidio Trust forestry crew to select 37 Monterey cypress trunks from aging trees felled at the very site where Spire now stands. As old trees go, so too must new trees arrive — a sentiment reflected by the young cypress trees planted around the installation’s 15-foot-wide base. As time passes, the forest will grow and envelop Spire.
In June 2020, Spire did indeed sustain fire damage. Thankfully, it remained intact – and many think the flames made Spire more beautiful than ever. We repaired the sculpture and added a cable fence, new signage, and wood benches made by the Presidio Trust Forestry crew.
It depends on how you measure it! Above ground, “Spire” stands 95 feet tall, but that doesn’t count the 12 feet below ground.
This work for me is a very powerful image of growth, the determination of the tree to push upward. It feels as if it’s coming from deep in the ground … when the new trees grow up around it, this will be a very intimate, internal place (from the San Francisco Chronicle).”
Nature Notes
It’s our goal to make sure people can enjoy the Presidio’s natural beauty for generations to come. We work to protect native plants and animals while reducing our impact on the environment.
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Experience the Presidio
The Presidio is San Francisco’s national park site, with endless trails, fun events, and unforgettable vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge.
