Park Stories

Highlighting the people, engaging programs and beautiful places that make the Golden Gate national parks special. Can't get enough? Sign up for our monthly E-ventures newsletter, and become a member today to receive our gorgeous Gateways Magazine. More about our publications here

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Cormorants nest in a large colony on Alcatraz
Park E-Ventures Article
Join Chris Briggs, research director of our Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, for a tour of the nesting birds on Alcatraz. In this essay, he points out some rookeries on the Rock—and shares the sad history of the turn-of-the-century feather craze.
Frank Dean
Park E-Ventures Article
After a National Park Service career of almost 40 years, Frank Dean is retiring. Learn about his enduring legacy at Golden Gate—and find out what’s next for Frank in his remarkable life of work on behalf of public lands.
Amy Meyer at National Trails Day, 2014
Park E-Ventures Article
One of the earliest residents of Yerba Buena. A pioneering dairy rancher during the Gold Rush era. And a woman who, for U.S. servicemen in WWII, became synonymous with San Francisco. In honor of Women’s History Month, read their stories and more.
Hawk Hill birdwatching
Park E-Ventures Article
What do you call two smiling raptor banders? A pair o’grins! Beaming faces were abundant on Hawk Hill during the fall 2014 migration season, which featured plenty of “celebrity” raptors, a loopy Redtail, a bald eagle flyby, and 300 intrepid Golden Gate Raptor Observatory volunteers.
art
Park E-Ventures Article
In 1806, Maria de la Concepcion and Nikolai Petrovich Rezanov fell in love at the Spanish Presidio of San Francisco—despite their differences in culture, language, and religion. And then, the only thing that stood between them and wedded bliss was the vast frozen expanse of Siberia.
Fort Baker
Park E-Ventures Article
Valentine’s Day isn’t just for greeting-card shills, sappy romantics, and the cynics who hate them. Here in the Golden Gate National Parks, we have park sites for everybody on V-Day. Our expert staff chose the perfect place to spend the holiday—with your sweetie, with your buddies, with your puppy, or...
Presidio Parklands Project
Park E-Ventures Article
The new 13-acre swath of national parkland, atop the Presidio Parkway tunnels and connecting the Main Post with Crissy Field, represents a major, historic park-making opportunity. James Corner Field Operations—the creative minds who designed the much-admired High Line in New York City—seems up to the task.
Volunteers at work
Park E-Ventures Article
There’s no way to encapsulate everything that you—our park volunteers—accomplish in a year. But, for 2014, we tried—with one summary infographic. As you can see, you give Golden Gate the most precious gifts of all: your time, energy, care, and dedication. Thank you!
Hikers near Muir Beach
Park E-Ventures Article
No box of stale chocolate. No ugly sweater. And no fruitcake. Only the warm fuzzy feeling of protecting the most-visited national park in America. Give a Conservancy membership, which your loved one will treasure as much as a trip to Muir Woods or Crissy Field.
Weeding, gardening
Park E-Ventures Article
Across the parks, volunteers root out nonnative plants to help restore wildlife habitat. But did you know that those weeds can be quite tasty? Just in time for holiday meals, enjoy these recipes that use nonnative species found in the Bay Area!
Verna Dunshee Trail, Mount Tamalpais
Park E-Ventures Article
OneTam.org is the new web portal recently launched by the Tamalpais Lands Collaborative, features a new trail map, stunning videos, event listings, and more.
Crissy Field Center education
Park E-Ventures Article
“Going to Chrissy Fields is as amazing as a kid not getting homework for the rest of the year.” See how school kids described their trips to Crissy Field Center, in words and pictures. Share in their inspiration and delight as they give thanks to the parks!