The Interfaith Center at the Presidio in San Francisco has been awarded a $750,000 Save America’s Treasures Historic Preservation Fund grant from the National Park Service. The United States government announced the matching grant in the fall. In partnership with other agencies, the Historic Preservation Fund awarded $25.7 million in Save America’s Treasures grants. The Interfaith Center is one of 58 projects in 26 states that will preserve nationally significant sites and collections. The grant requires a dollar-for-dollar match, which will allow the Interfaith Center to leverage a total of $1.5 million to support the renovation of the Presidio Chapel as part of a $14 million capital project, which includes accessibility updates, an expanded education and conference center, and a gallery. Architect Jay Turnbull of Page & Turnbull is undertaking the transformation of the chapel and additional work and is widely known as a leader in historic preservation and for bringing new, relevant life and use to historic sites.

“The importance of the SAT grant goes far beyond the funds it provides,” said Camilla Smith, ICP board member and chair of the capital campaign. “This expression of support from a consortium of federal agencies underscores the national significance of the Presidio Chapel as a symbol of interfaith unity and peace as important parts of American democracy. The matching requirement of the grant gives the public an opportunity and incentive to participate in the restoration of one of San Francisco’s enduring architectural, historical and cultural treasures.”

The Interfaith Center at the Presidio has been the steward of the Main Post Chapel since shortly after it became a national park in 1996. The ICP, located next to the national cemetery, holds services for veterans and their families, such as the Fleet Week standing-room-only service. Programs are also held on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. As a military chapel, it has served multiple faiths since it was built in 1931. The chapel hosts regular gatherings for speakers, music, weddings and other events.

Photo courtesy of The Interfaith Center at the Presidio via Page & Turnbull

Restoration of the Presidio Chapel

The SAT grant supports the continued life of the existing Presidio Chapel. Main features of the SAT-supported building program include restoration of the building exterior, replacement or repair of windows and doors, structural stabilization of existing roofs, restoring the copper gutter and drainage system, and provision of two ADA accessible entrances to the lower level.

Photo courtesy of The Interfaith Center at the Presidio via Page & Turnbull

Additional Work

In addition to the scope of work funded by the SAT grant, a newly constructed wing will be provided to the chapel. The landscape design of the overall site will insure accessible routes to all visitors. A new staircase and elevator will facilitate movement within the entire building. A gallery will be built to house special collections and provide meeting space for ICP programs. Expanded ICP offices and services will also be available on the lower level.

About the Interfaith Center at the Presidio

“The ICP is an interfaith umbrella organization for the San Francisco Bay Area community interfaith councils, and the Presidio Chapel is a familiar gathering place for dozens of organizations with similar goals.” Its mission is to welcome, serve and celebrate the diverse faith traditions and spiritual wisdom of the Bay Area. Never has the need for healthy cross-cultural relationships been greater. The ICP has a historic commitment to peacemaking within, between and among religious and spiritual traditions. The ICP is committed to promoting interfaith cooperation, ending religiously motivated violence and creating cultures of peace and justice.

Graced with a breathtaking view of San Francisco Bay, the Presidio Main Post Chapel maintains the military legacy of serving all religious traditions and is a memorial to those veterans who honorably served their country and now rest in the adjacent San Francisco National Cemetery. Many are commemorated in the plaques that adorn the walls of the chapel. Built in 1931 by the U.S. Army, the chapel’s Spanish Colonial Revival architecture features arched stained-glass windows, a magnificent fresco, a high ceiling with redwood beams, wrought-iron chandeliers and lovely oak doors. Originally serving as a nondenominational military chapel, it now serves as the home for interfaith worship and dialogue.

For more information about the Interfaith Center at the Presidio, visit www.interfaithpresidio.org. The complete SAT grants announcement release may be found here.