Presidio Brick House Porch
Unravel the history of San Francisco’s Presidio and take great photos on a self-guided walking tour of the Main Post, the heart of the Presidio.
The former Spanish / Mexican / US military site is part of the National Park Service and in public hands since 1994. With over 200 years of military history, the park offers a unique combination of attractions for history buffs and photographers.
The stylish 19th century houses, lavish porches, and beautifully maintained gardens make this area of the park attractive to photographers. Most of the buildings serve as residences and offices and are thus off limits to exploration, but there is still much to see on the short walking tour.
How to get there
Presidio Walking Tour Map (click to enlarge)
The temporary Visitor Center is currently located at the Officers’ Club at 50 Moraga Avenue. Make the visitor center your first stop. Here you can get a detailed map of the entire park and a brochure with background information of the Presidio’s Main Post.
Parking is free. The most convenient place to park is in front of the visitor center. Alternatively, you can also park on the Main Parade Ground.
GPS position
How to photograph the Buildings of the Presidio’s Main Post
Presidio old car
The visitor center lies within the confines of the original 1776 Presidio. From here, walk along Moraga Avenue to the Chapel of our Lady. If you get a chance to photograph inside the small civil-war-era chapel, take it. The bright wooden interior of the picturesque chapel is worth it.
Continue on Moraga Avenue to the corner of Funston Avenue. The large brick building to your right has a long porch graced with white pillars (image at the top of the page). You can find good compositions from the porch and from Funston Avenue.
The classic white 19th century houses along Funston Avenue seem too similar. Such is the appeal of the former military architecture. Lining them up in a row seems natural, but is difficult. I found one of the best angles from the first house near Moraga Avenue, but depending on the season and the prevailing light, the view from the north (other end) may look better. Look for anything that stands out. I found an old car (image above) that added a nice touch.
Presidio Flowers at the Hospital
From Funston Ave, take a short detour to Mesa Street, where you will find two impressive three story stone buildings with giant arched colonnades. You can climb to the second floor using an outside stair. The buildings look impressive but the parked cars in front of the buildings ruin the composition. Maybe you will have more luck.
Continue down Funston to the withered old Army Hospital. Restoration on the crumbling building constrained photography during my last visit, but I found that the peeling paint provides good abstract studies. Behind the Hospital, you can find two cabins that served as housing for the earthquake victims of 1906.
Presidio Fire Truck
Turn left on Lincoln Blvd and continue for another block. Across the street on Lincoln, you will find the old fire station. The building is not interesting, but maybe you are in luck and the trucks are out.
The Enlisted Barracks on Graham Street are notoriously difficult to photograph. I climbed the fire escape stairs on the building across the street to get a better point of view.
Presidio Disney Museum
Walk across the Main Parade Ground, which is just a large concrete parking area, to the red brick buildings on Montgomery Street. One of these buildings is the Visitor Center under restoration. Keep of the porch. The wood is old and brittle. The porch of the Disney Museum is already restored.
If you wish, you can take a small detour to the Main Post Chapel at 130 Fisher Loop. Part of the Interfaith Center, the chapel is one of the oldest buildings here. It was erected in 1776.
On your way back to the visitor center, you will pass the cannons. Use a wide aperture and medium to long focal length to isolate them from the clutter in the background, especially the parked cars.
Best Time of the Day and Best Season
Most of the views are to the west, which makes mornings the better time to take the walk. I shot this place on an overcast day’s afternoon, which works well too, if you can eliminate most of the sky from your photographs.
Although spring will be a good time for the gardens, I like to visit here during the summer and winter, when other places are less attractive. The maintained grounds are beautiful year round.
Time required
It takes about 90 minutes to walk around and take photos.
Equipment
- Zoom Lens
- Wide-angle lens
- CP Filter
- Tripod (for HDR shots)
Close Locations
- Fort Point
- Presidio Views
- Golden Gate walk
- Land’s End and Sutro Baths
- Baker Beach
- China Beach
- Legion of Honor
- Stow Lake, Strawberry Hill, Aboretum (Golden Gate Park)
- Japanese Tea Garden (Golden Gate Park)
- Marina, Crissy Field
- Palace of Fine Arts
- Twin Peaks
- Fort Mason
Useful Resources
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2 Comments
Thanks for the Saturday get away from Sacramento idea.
Wow, great images. I wish I had visited there… Maybe another time.