Collections

GGNRA 50th Anniversary Oral History Project

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) is celebrating its 50^th Anniversary! To commemorate this important year and continue the capture of the park’s history the GGNRA’s Museum Program is reinvigorating its Oral History Program. Visit the GGNRA 50th Anniversary Oral History Project page for more information about contributing your story.

 

 

 

Museum Program

The Golden Gate NRA holds one of the largest collections in the National Park Service with a total of nearly 6.2 million items in four disciplines: Archives, Archaeology, History, and Natural History. Materials document the San Francisco Bay Area's extensive history on both sides of the Golden Gate Strait from the early prehistory of native tribes, through the military presence of three different nations, to the events and decisions that shaped the culture of San Francisco and its surrounding areas.

Although the Golden Gate NRA does not have a formal museum to visit, some of the park's locations have historical items on display. Site-specific exhibits can be found at Alcatraz Island, the SF-88 Nike Missile Site at Fort Barry, Fort Point National Historic Site, and the Lands End Visitor Center. Online exhibits are also available, created to showcase different themes, events, and places within the park.

All items in the permanent museum collection are guided by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area's Scope of Collections Statement (PDF) (RTF). This document provides insight regarding the items that are accepted into the collection, how they are reviewed by the park, the laws governing accepting donations, and the basic management of the objects.

 

 

Reference Hours

Walk-in reference is not currently available. However, research by appointment is welcome. Make an appointment on the Contact Us web page, or call [phone].

 

Park Archives and Records Center - Presidio Building 667

Location

The archives facility and Museum Program offices are located on the Presidio of San Francisco in Building 667 (click the link for a map), near the intersection of Mc Dowell Avenue and Cowles Street, off of Lincoln Boulevard in one of the 1914 historic brick stable buildings. The building is accessible through the ramp and door on the long side of the building facing the Bay.

Information about public transportation to and around the Presidio is available on the Presidio Trust's Transportation site.

 

Go Further...

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  GGNRA Photo Galleries

  A selection of historic images of all sites around the GGNRA.

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  Bridging the Past - Museum Blog

  Learn more about specific collections, projects, and positions in the GGNRA's Museum Program.

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  Museum Program FAQs

  Museum Program Frequently Asked Questions

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  NPS Museum Collections

  Explore more of the GGNRA's museum items through the NPS Museum Collections Site.

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  Cultural Resource Publications

  The park has produced historic building reports, cultural landscape reports, preservation manuals and historic resource studies.