The Ghosts of the Presidio

The Presidio of San Francisco has been a military post under three flags since 1776. Now a national park, it is home to ghosts from Spanish colonial times through the modern era.

The History

The Presidio served as a Spanish, Mexican, and American military post. It was a major staging area for western expansion, the Civil War, World War II, and Cold War operations. Thousands lived, worked, and died here.

The Ghosts

Spirits are reported throughout the Presidio. Officers in period uniforms walk the parade ground. A ghostly woman wanders the Officers’ Club. Soldiers from different eras are seen in buildings adapted for modern use.

The Hospital

The former Army hospital, now a hotel and residential complex, is particularly active. The ghosts of Civil War soldiers and World War II casualties are seen in hallways. Strange sounds and cold spots are reported.

The Cemetery

The San Francisco National Cemetery within the Presidio is the final resting place for 30,000 veterans. Visitors report apparitions, particularly of Civil War and Spanish-American War soldiers.

Assessment

The Presidio’s centuries of military use have created layers of hauntings. The dead from each era remain, walking the grounds they knew in life. The former Army post is now a park for the living and the dead.