Crissy Field (San Francisco, California)

USA / California / San Francisco / San Francisco, California
 park, NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, closed / former military, historic landmark
A large open park site within the Golden Gate National Recreational Area, and in the shadow of the Golden Gate. 100 acres of wild, windswept shoreline crawling with walkers, joggers, board sailors, bicyclists, picnickers, and occasional wildlife.

Originally a rich salt marsh and gathering ground for native people, Crissy Field was later the landing site of Spanish explorers and Russian, English and Boston traders. In 1915, the Panama Pacific International Exposition was held here, and shortly after, the area became one of the country’s foremost military airfields and part of a U.S. army post.

Coast Defense Air Station, Coast Defenses of San Francisco was established in July 1918 with heavier-than-air operations beginning 24 June 1921. It was redesignated Crissy Field in 1921 by Major Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, then the Air Service Officer of the Western Military Department at the Presidio, in honor of Maj. Dana H. Crissy, who died in a flying accident in 1919. It was made an auxiliary field on 30 June 1936 and all flying units reassigned to other fields.

Units once located or received training here include 14th Balloon Squadron (1920-1921), 24th Balloon Company (1920), 91st Observation Squadron (1921-1936), 316th Observation Squadron (1922-1936), 342nd Service Squadron (1922-1933), 367th Observation Squadron (1922-1936), 372nd Observation Squadron (1922-1930), 381st Service Squadron (1925-1936), and 447th Pursuit Squadron (1922-1929).

With generous community support, Crissy Field has been transformed into a spectacular national parkland. The 100-acre site is included within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the Presidio of San Francisco. Along with the entire Presidio, it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962.

It was restored in 1998-2000, with over 100,000 native plantings, a dune field, and a new lagoon/salt marsh.

A 142-page book written by park historian Stephen A. Haller can be found here: www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/goga/airfields...
www.militarymuseum.org/CrissyAAF.html
www.crissyfield.org
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crissy_Field
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   37°48'17"N   122°27'15"W

Comments

  • The polygon outline shows the former location of the paved part of Crissy Field, which was in use from WWII until its formal closure to fixed-wing aircraft in 1974 -- helicopters were still allowed to land here up until at least 1998. The grass portion of Crissy Field was constructed in 1921 and used until WWII, when wooden barracks and other buildings were built on it.
This article was last modified 9 years ago