Golden Gate - Crissy Field Center - San Francisco, CA - National Parks (U.S.) on Waymarking.com

The Crissy Field Center is a nationally recognized model for reaching out to underrepresented groups—especially urban youth—who have not traditionally visited National Parks. The Center plans to maintain its current programs. Minimal impact is expected on traffic and parking as very few staff drive to work, and most program participants arrive at the Center via public transportation or school bus. Existing parking lots will be unchanged. Current visitor amenities, including a snack bar and visitor information area with select items for sale, will be available at the new location.

This Crissy Field visitor center has small nature exhibits, gift shop. In addition to the visitor center, they also operate a warming hut and gift shop further west along the shore line.

Crissy Field was named after Major Dana Crissy, who was commander of Mather Field in Sacramento. In 1919, Crissy was involved with the Army's First Transcontinental Reliability and Endurance Test across North America. This was a coast-to-coast race, with 46 planes flying west and 15 planes flying east. Crissy was killed the first day out from San Francisco, while trying to land in Salt Lake City, Utah. Major Hap Arnold, who was then commander of the yet unnamed Presidio airfield, requested that it be named Crissy Field.

Originally, Crissy Field was a seasonal home to the Ohlone Indians and later became a landing point for Spanish ships. After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the marsh land was filled in to support the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition. From 1919 to 1936, Crissy Airfield was the only continuously active Army airfield in the western United States. In 1999, restoration of the land to its native marshes began. Today marsh-loving wildlife enjoy this restored area.

Crissy Field Center is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.