Crissy Field's History
San Francisco, California
The area was originally a rich salt marsh and a gathering ground for the Ohlone; Native American people of the central California coast. It later served as the landing site of Spanish explorers and Russian, English and Boston traders. Shortly after the Panama-Pacific International Exposition was held there in 1915 it became one of America's foremost military airfields and a portion of the Presidio army base. Crissy field also served as a Grand Prix raceway and a U.S. Coast Guard station.
When the Post Office scouted for a suitable landing field in San Francisco, none presented better possibilities than the U.S. Army Air Service airport, then called the Flying Field at the Presidio.
Major Henry 'Hap' Arnold led the successful effort to change the name to Crissy Field in honor of Major Dana H. Crissy, who crashed and died on 8 October 1919 in a de Havilland DH-4B during an Air Service transcontinental reliability test while attempting a landing at Salt Lake City, Utah. Under the auspices of the Air Mail Service, San Francisco and Crissy Field gained fame as the site of many early aviation milestones.
A row of hangars and a slippery seaplane ramp evoke an era when a squadron of airplanes stood ready for action at Crissy Field. This military airfield is actually older than the air force, dating back to the 1920s when flying had barely gotten off the ground. In those days, so little was known about nationwide flying conditions that the US Army sent a team of fliers from Crissy Field and from an eastern counterpart at the same time to see who could reach the opposite coast first.
In 1962, along with the entire Presidio of San Francisco, it was designated a National Historic Landmark.
The airfield was closed in 1974. The closure left San Francisco as the only county in California without an airport in its boundaries. (San Francisco International Airport is located in San Mateo County.)
The Presidio ceased all military operations and the base became part of the federal Golden Gate National Recreation Area under the Base Closure Act, in the 1990s.
We invite you to explore the history, vision, transformation and legacy of Crissy Field:
Crissy Field 10th Anniversary
Crissy Field History
Crissy Field Public Process
Crissy Field Design
Crissy Field Construction Documents
Crissy Field Construction
Crissy Field Transformation
Crissy Field Quotes
Crissy Field Fun Facts
Crissy Field News
When the Post Office scouted for a suitable landing field in San Francisco, none presented better possibilities than the U.S. Army Air Service airport, then called the Flying Field at the Presidio.
Major Henry 'Hap' Arnold led the successful effort to change the name to Crissy Field in honor of Major Dana H. Crissy, who crashed and died on 8 October 1919 in a de Havilland DH-4B during an Air Service transcontinental reliability test while attempting a landing at Salt Lake City, Utah. Under the auspices of the Air Mail Service, San Francisco and Crissy Field gained fame as the site of many early aviation milestones.
A row of hangars and a slippery seaplane ramp evoke an era when a squadron of airplanes stood ready for action at Crissy Field. This military airfield is actually older than the air force, dating back to the 1920s when flying had barely gotten off the ground. In those days, so little was known about nationwide flying conditions that the US Army sent a team of fliers from Crissy Field and from an eastern counterpart at the same time to see who could reach the opposite coast first.
In 1962, along with the entire Presidio of San Francisco, it was designated a National Historic Landmark.
The airfield was closed in 1974. The closure left San Francisco as the only county in California without an airport in its boundaries. (San Francisco International Airport is located in San Mateo County.)
The Presidio ceased all military operations and the base became part of the federal Golden Gate National Recreation Area under the Base Closure Act, in the 1990s.
We invite you to explore the history, vision, transformation and legacy of Crissy Field:
Crissy Field 10th Anniversary
Crissy Field History
Crissy Field Public Process
Crissy Field Design
Crissy Field Construction Documents
Crissy Field Construction
Crissy Field Transformation
Crissy Field Quotes
Crissy Field Fun Facts
Crissy Field News