Letterman Digital Arts Center
This scenic campus features a public meadow, restaurants, views, and the famous Yoda Fountain.
The campus features a lovely 17-acre public meadow with a creek-fed lagoon and gorgeous views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Palace of Fine Arts. Take it all in from the ample walkways and sitting areas. Then pause for a coffee at Starbucks or a meal at Sessions at the Presidio.
A real treat is making a pilgrimage to a life-sized bronze fountain of Star Wars mainstay Yoda.
Getting to Letterman Digital Arts Center
Letterman Digital Arts Center
Parking
Paid parking is available in an underground garage at the Letterman Digital Arts Center. Use the street address 1 Letterman Drive, San Francisco, CA 94129.
Why We Love the Letterman Digital Arts Center
The big public lawn is a lesser-known Presidio gem. Take a stroll or hit Sessions at Presidio for a refreshing craft beer — you can enjoy views of the Palace of Fine Arts from their patio seating.
Accessibility at Letterman
The underground parking garage features spaces for visitors with mobility limitations as well as an elevator.
Insider Tip
Need an unforgettable venue rental for your next meeting or special occasion? Check out the 2,000 square foot Skywalker Room, which offers unparalleled views of the Palace of Fine Arts. It’s available for rent through Sessions at the Presidio.
Get to Know the Letterman Digital Arts Center
This Presidio campus off the beaten path and worth the trip.
Walk on In
If you’re on foot, enter the campus through the Chestnut Gate, right off Lyon Street.
A Special Landscape
The late, great landscape designer Lawrence Halprin designed the meadow, with a creek-fed lagoon, 500 trees, shrubs, and wide walkways. Halprin also designed the World War II West Coast Memorial to the Missing in the Presidio.
Yoda Fountain in the Presidio
One of the coolest things to do in San Francisco is visiting Yoda. A 32-inch-high bronze statue of the Jedi Master is perched outside the Lucasfilm headquarters in front of Building B. Selfie time!
A Bit of Presidio History
Built in 2005, the 23-acre campus is on the site of the decommissioned Letterman General Hospital, named for Major Jonathan Letterman, Medical Director for the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War. The original historic hospital, now the Tides Converge campus, is located next door.
Frequently Asked Questions
Seeking an audience with a Jedi? You’ll find Yoda’s life-size bronze fountain outside the front entrance of Lucasfilm at Building B.
There are restrooms available for customers of the restaurants. The nearest public restrooms can be found 0.4 miles away at Presidio Transit Center.
Yes, there are other organizations who are located at the campus.
Established in 1898, Letterman General Hospital was the U.S. Army’s oldest named general hospital. First constructed to care for sick and wounded soldiers during the Spanish American War, it later became the largest Army hospital in the country. A new hospital building was constructed in the 1960s.
All medical functions ended in 1995 after the Army departed the post. While this ended a major chapter in Presidio history, it opened the door for all we’re able to enjoy on the site today.
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.
History in a New Form
The campus was built where the Army’s Letterman Army Medical Center once stood. Remnants of the hospital’s history are literally embedded in this new facility, as 50 percent of the concrete from the hospital was used to create the new campus. The new buildings are certified with a Gold LEED Rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.
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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.
