San Francisco VA Medical Center, place in California listed on National Register of Historic Places
The San Francisco VA Medical Center is a veterans hospital on a historic site in San Francisco. The facility combines older buildings in Mayan Deco style with modern additions, housing clinics for various specialties, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and diagnostic areas.
The site was originally Fort Miley, a military installation from 1893 that defended the bay. The hospital opened in 1934 after the Veterans Administration selected the land in 1931, and during World War II patients were evacuated when the fort's defensive batteries were reactivated to protect San Francisco.
The site carries a strong identity as a place dedicated to veterans, visible in how the buildings and grounds are organized around their care. This commitment shapes the daily rhythm of the place, where visitors encounter spaces designed to support those who have served.
The center is easily accessible by public transportation, with free parking and complimentary valet parking available. The grounds are well marked and staff at entrances are ready to help visitors navigate to different clinics and services.
The site functioned as an active defense position during World War II, with batteries stationed to protect the city from possible air attacks. This dual role as both hospital and military defense center remains a distinctive aspect of the location's wartime history.
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