Park Archives and Records Center - Finding Aids

Finding aids contain information on the contents and significance of an archival collection. The finding aid may include descriptive information; repository information; collection history; biographical or historical information on creators of the collection; and in some cases a container or folder list of everything in the collection. The collection is housed at the Park Archives and Records Center’s and can be viewed by appointment. If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact the reference archivist at 415-561-2807 or Contact Us web page.

Each link below will lead to a selection of finding aids that are relevant to the geographic areas of the GGNRA or other topics of interest. These finding aids are only a handful of the over two thousand collections housed at the Park Archives and Records Center. Please note that some collections span many topics and areas, making it difficult to categorize a particular group of papers or photographs, efforts were made to duplicate the finding aids in all possible locations.

Selected finding aids will be added as collections are processed.

Alcatraz

Find collections about the island which includes a Civil War citadel, an army prison, a federal penitentiary and the Indian Occupation.
Fort Point & the Golden Gate

Collections posted here concern Fort Point National Historic Site, the Golden Gate strait and Golden Gate Bridge.
Marin Parklands

Collections within this topic preserve the history of coast artillery defenses and also the movement to preserve the headlands.
Muir Woods

Material documenting the world's only old-growth coastal redwood forest and the activities of the NPS within this National Monument.
Presidio of San Francisco

These collections document nearly 200 years of military history with a strong emphasis on the resources within the Presidio of San Francisco
San Francisco Parklands

The San Francisco Parklands include Fort Funston, Fort Mason, Fort Miley, Sutro Baths and Sutro Heights, and the Cliff House.
San Mateo Parklands

Find collections about the coastal defenses of these sites and the plans to set aside these lands years before it became official.
Events and Wars

Collections include wars and events that took place within the lands of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Military Collections

These topics include anything military related from life on post to structures built to maintain Army defenses (standing or demolished).
Natural Resources

Collections that contain files regarding natural resource elements such as studies performed in Muir Woods or surveys of geological features