FORT MASON CENTER
Situated on 13 waterfront acres with a stunning view of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, Fort Mason Center is a fascinating historic landmark and a lively, ever-changing reflection of the dynamic Bay Area community. The Center, a model of military base conversion, befriends visitors from every walk of life, providing them with a unique opportunity to experience a diverse and eclectic mix of culture, education, and recreation in an exciting urban park environment.

HISTORY
Until 1962 Fort Mason was a military installation, an embarkation port for soldiers and sailors headed for the Pacific during the Korean conflict and World War II. In 1972 Congress created the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), an urban park with several thousand acres of shoreline. Fort Mason was included in the park. By 1976, the National Park Service (NPS) had received more than 400 proposals for use of lower Fort Mason, including the suggestions of two citizens’ advisory commissions. On the basis of these ideas, Fort Mason Foundation was formed to administer a wide variety of programs. In 1977, Fort Mason Center opened its doors.

DESCRIPTION
Fort Mason Center has nine Mission Revival buildings with a total of 300,000 square feet of space. This includes classrooms, galleries, meeting rooms, offices, performance spaces, and a large conference center — three rooms with a total capacity of 400. Two of the Center’s piers are used for major events. The Herbst Pavilion accommodates 3,000 and the Festival Pavilion holds 5,000. In 1989, the 437-seat Cowell Theater opened, providing state-of-the-art performance space.

RESIDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Two dozen nonprofit organizations call Fort Mason Center home. The diversity of the groups reflects the diverse interests of those who live in the San Francisco Bay Area. Theaters, museums, a music school, a maritime library, and a radio station join a gourmet vegetarian restaurant, several environmental groups, a bookstore, and many others to create a campus bustling with activity every day. To be considered for residency, organizations must meet the Center’s program requirements, which include providing affordable services or activities to the community.

ACTIVITIES
Between resident and nonresident organizations, Fort Mason Center hosts more than 15,000 activities each year. These include exhibits, fairs, lectures, festivals, performances, and symposia, as well as classes and workshops for all ages and interests. Among the many events that return to the Center year after year are the Arts of Pacific Asia Show, the Tribal & Textile Arts Show, the Contemporary Crafts Market, the Celebration of Craftswomen, the San Francisco Fall Antiques Show, and the Pacific Orchid Exposition. Also, many annual food- and wine-related events are held here.

ATTENDANCE: 1.6 million annually

FUNDING: Fort Mason Foundation is self-sufficient regarding day-to-day operating expenses through earned income. The Center relies on outside funding for capital improvements and special projects.

FUTURE: Restoration and preservation of all Fort Mason Center buildings. This includes the conversion of West Pier for programmatic use. Plans to facilitate greater public transportation access to the Center by ferry and historic street cars are also underway.