The History
This scenic army post played a key role in the defense of the San Francisco Bay for more than a century. In 1866, the US Army acquired the site for a base to fortify the north side of the Golden Gate. The 24 buildings around the 10-acre parade ground at Fort Baker took shape between 1901 and 1915, and the post remained active through World War II.
In 1973 Fort Baker was listed as a Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places. When the Golden Gate National Parks were established in 1972, Fort Baker was designated to be transferred to the National Park Service when no longer needed by the military. In 2002 Fort Baker transferred officially from post to park.
To launch the post-to-park transition, the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy consulted the public on the best future for Fort Baker. A retreat and conference center won approval for providing ready access to the parklands, San Francisco, and the greater Bay Area and for promising to have minimal impact on the site but positive impact on the world.
The National Park Service, with the support of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy conducted a national competition and selected the Fort Baker Retreat Group to help shape the next century of Fort Baker.