Marine Cemetery Vista
History meets nature at this tranquil dune highlighting a little-known chapter in the Presidio’s pas
Though the Presidio was a U.S. Army post, it was also home to a Marine Hospital built by the Treasury Department in 1875 to provide for “the temporary relief . . . of sick or disabled seamen” from around the world at no cost. Deceased mariners who could not be returned home were buried behind the hospital in a cemetery that was rediscovered in 1989 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Today, this sacred site is honored with a vista. The surrounding dune habitat has been restored, creating a tranquil respite where nature and history come together.
Getting to Marine Cemetery Vista
1818 Wedemeyer St, San Francisco, CA 94129
By Public Transit
Muni Route: 1 California
Stop: California Street and 14th Avenue
Directions: Walk north two blocks north and enter the Presidio at the 15th Avenue Gate. Follow Wedemeyer Street uphill until it connects with the Mountain Lake Trail. Follow the trail east to Marine Cemetery Vista.
Parking
Paid parking can be found near 1808 Wedemeyer Street and in a large lot at the bottom of Wedemeyer Street near the Lobos Valley Overlook.
Why We Love Marine Cemetery Vista
This site brings a very human perspective to the history of the Presidio. And the dune habitat, dotted with annual wildflowers, showcases the Presidio’s natural heritage.
Accessibility
There is one parking space for those with mobility limitations in the paved parking lot off Wedemeyer Street.
Insider Tip
Bring your binoculars. A remnant of native oak woodlands can be seen in this area and along nearby Lobos Creek, making it a good spot for birders to see a wide variety of winged wonders.
A Little-Known Chapter in the History of the Presidio
While San Francisco National Cemetery is a well-known burial ground in the Presidio, few are aware of this resting place for merchant mariners from across the globe.
Getting Here
Marine Cemetery Vista is behind the former U.S. Marine Hospital, today a housing community known as the Presidio Landmark. It’s along the Mountain Lake Trail, a boardwalk that snakes through the native dunes.
A Hospital for Sailors from Around the World
In 1875, the Treasury Department built a U.S. Marine Hospital here to care for ailing sailors from around the world. From 1881 until 1912, more than 500 mariners from 30 states and 43 countries who died and could not be returned home were buried here. As the years passed, the cemetery was forgotten and covered by a landfill. In 1989, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rediscovered it. In 2011, we created the Marine Cemetery Vista to make sure the long-departed sailors would not be forgotten again.
From Historic Hospital to Presidio Housing
In 2010, a residential community known as Presidio Landmark opened in the reimagined hospital. A year later, the rehabilitation of the building and the surrounding 36-acre Public Health District campus was honored with the Governor’s Historic Preservation Award by the California State Office of Historic Preservation.
Hikes in San Francisco
The Public Health District where the Marine Cemetery Vista is located is near four Presidio trails: the Mountain Lake Trail, the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, the Park Trail, and the Lobos Creek Valley Trail.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest public restrooms can be found at Mountain Lake Park, about a 13-minute walk away and at the Golf Course General Store, a 21-minute walk up the Park Trail.
No, the closest Presidio food options are the Golf Course General Store , a 21-minute walk up the Park Trail.
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.
Restoring Dune Habitat
To restore the dunes, the Presidio secured 25,000 cubic yards of native sand from when the underground parking garage was built at the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. This is now habitat for the San Francisco Lessingia, a federally enlisted endangered species, and other annual wildflowers.
Explore What's Nearby
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.
