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Three visitors standing underneath Andy Goldsworthy’s Tree Fall at the Presidio of San Francisco. Photo by Charity Vargas.

Andy Goldsworthy’s Tree Fall

Tree Fall is an indoor installation by famed artist Andy Goldsworthy.

Region

Main Post Region

Type

Military & Historic Site

Interests

Food, Art & Culture, Nature & Sustainability, History

Top Amenities

Accessible Parking, Muni Bus-accessible, Shuttle-accessible, Paid Parking

Tree Fall is Temporarily Closed

Tree Fall is not currently open for public visits. The outermost door to Tree Fall is open to visitors Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Tree Fall is an indoor installation by famed artist Andy Goldsworthy that celebrates history and nature.

NOTE: Tree Fall is not currently open for public visits. 

Playful and unexpected, Tree Fall explores the relationship between what is “natural” and what is “built.”

Created in 2013, it’s one of four works by world-renowned artist Andy Goldsworthy that studies the history and rejuvenation of the Presidio forest, planted by the U.S. Army beginning in the 1880s.

It’s located inside the petite historic “Power Magazine,” built by the Army in the Civil War era. Tree Fall is made of a clay-covered tree branch suspended from the domed roof. The branch and ceiling were also covered with clay from the Presidio that dried and cracked into a beautiful organic pattern. Upon entering the building, visitors’ eyes slowly adjust to the light until the full breadth of the sculpture is revealed.

Google Map of the Presidio

By Public Transit

Muni Route: 43
Stop: Presidio Transit Center

By Presidio GO Shuttle

Route: Downtown Route
Stop: Presidio Officers’ Club

Tree Fall Parking

Park in a paid lot on the Presidio’s Main Post near the intersection of Sheridan Avenue and Graham Street. There is also parking near the Presidio Officers’ Club. For GPS, use the street address 95 Anza Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94129.

Why We Love Tree Fall

Tree Fall is a special Presidio surprise. You’d never know what’s going on inside that tiny building! A visit to Tree Fall also means you’re steps away from Andy Goldsworthy’s Earth Wall, located inside the Presidio Officers’ Club.

Accessibility at Tree Fall

Parking spaces for those with mobility limitations are located near Tree Fall. Accessible restrooms are nearby at the Presidio Officers’ Club.

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.

Man in a black t-shirt standing beneath Andy Goldsworthy’s Tree Fall in the Presidio of San Francisco.

One-of-A-Kind Art in A One-Of-A-Kind Place

Visiting Andy Goldsworthy’s Tree Fall is one of the coolest things to do in San Francisco.

Using What Nature Gives You

Artist Andy Goldsworthy loves to source his materials from where his installations live. With Tree Fall, that meant repurposing a Eucalyptus tree trunk from the Presidio, which he covered with clay from the Presidio combined with human hair from a local salon. With help from 40 volunteers, he applied the mixture to the tree trunk and ceiling of the Powder Magazine. The result is a dazzling, organic pattern of cracked dry clay and textures, which reveals itself as your eyes adjust to the light.

A New Chapter in a Historic Building

The historic Powder Magazine was built in the Civil War era. It protected gun powder and munitions. Its four-foot-thick stone walls were meant to minimize damage in the event of an accidental explosion.

Exterior of the Powder Magazine which houses Andy Goldsworthy’s Tree Fall, with a docent standing in front.

All in the Family

Tree Fall is one of four exhibits by the artist in the Presidio. Others include Andy Goldsworthy’s Wood Line, Spire, and Earth Wall.

A Partnership Project

Tree Fall 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 www.for-site.org.

background pattern

Frequently Asked Questions

Tree Fall closed during the pandemic. Visitors need to be accompanied, so we’re exploring options for a docent program so we can invite the public back.

Yes, Colibri Mexican Bistro is nearby in the Presidio Officers’ Club. Presidio Pop Up food trucks are also steps away in the Main Post.

No, it’s free to visit all the Andy Goldsworthy San Francisco Presidio art installations.

There is an incredible short video that tells the story of how Tree Fall came to life.

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.

Revitalizing the Presidio Forest

We began replanting the Presidio’s aging forest in 2003. Since that time, more than 40 acres have been restored and 5,000 trees have been planted all around the park.

Learn More
Young trees planted at West Pacific Grove near Lovers’ Lane and the Presidio Gate.Photo by Brian Vahey.
Andy Goldsworthy on a ladder installing Tree Fall inside the Powder Magazine at the Presidio of San Francisco.
Photo by the FOR-Site Foundation.

My art is an attempt to reach beyond the surface appearance. I want to see growth in wood, time in stone, nature in a city and I do not mean its parks but a deeper understanding that a city is nature too – the ground upon which it is built, the stone with which it is made.”

Andy Goldsworthy

Artist

Park Itineraries

Need help planning your day at the Presidio? We’ve put together some itinerary ideas for things to see and do in the park. Whether you’re planning to spend a few hours or an entire day, there’s something for everyone at the Presidio.