Built during the Great Depression and named for World War I pilot and hero
Lloyd Hamilton, the Air Force base was originally marshland and was sold
to the U.S. government for $1. Hamilton Field was designed by Capt. Howard
B. Nurse, who created an environment that blended in with the natural
landscape, combining elements of Renaissance, Mission, Spanish
Churrigueresque and Art Modern.
In 1976, the airfield was closed and the area used as an introduction
center for refugees from Southeast Asia. Cambodians, Vietnamese and
Laotians poured into the base on their way to establishing homes
throughout the United States.
Marin MOCA:
Start your visit at the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art (500 Palm Drive),
right in the center of the triangle formed by Palm Drive and South Palm
Drive. Originally the headquarters of the Hamilton Air Force Base, today
the museum hosts exhibitions, classes, guest artist lectures,
demonstrations and workshops, as well as offering galley space to local
artists.
Before entering the museum, look at the elaborate Spanish Churrigueresque
concrete castings of the front facade. Inside, ornate painted beams look
like wood but are made of concrete. The museum is open 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is free. For a schedule of exhibitions
and classes, go to www.marinmoca.org.
Hamilton Field stroll:
Walk down South Palm Drive (museum on your left) past the theater (now
closed) and the Hamilton Community Center, formerly the Air Force Base
security building. At Hangar Avenue, look to your left at the richly
ornamented front door of the former enlisted men's barracks, today used
for residential senior housing.
Cross Hangar Avenue to explore the historic hangars, two of them occupied
by Disney's Imagemovers Digital. Hangar 6 houses the South Novato Library,
Sony Imageworks and Cafe Joel. Enter the hangar near Cafe Joel to see a
collection of historic photos.
Walk to the end of Hangar 6 and then look east toward the levee. Scramble
up the dirt slope to stroll along the levee looking at what was once the
base's runway. You will be sharing the levee with joggers and dog walkers.
Today, this desolate, muddy field is being restored, and it is already
home to mallards, egrets and herons.
When you descend from the levee, cross Hangar Avenue to see the historic
firehouse built in 1934 and soon to be home to the Hamilton Field History
Museum.
Vista Trail up Reservoir Hill:
A short but delightful hike takes you along Vista Trail to the top of
Reservoir Hill, where you can look over all of Hamilton Field. To access
the trail, walk down Palm Drive to its intersection with Hamilton Parkway.
Turn left (west) on North Hamilton Road, and you will soon come to the
Vista Trail trailhead. Climbing up the gentle grade of this half-mile,
wheelchair-accessible trail, you pass dramatic native oaks. At the summit,
you can gaze out in all directions and see the entire airfield and
soon-to-be-restored wetlands. Return the same way, or, if you want to
explore and take a longer hike, descend via the north end of the trail,
which connects to the Bay Trail on the levee.
After the walk:
When you're ready for lunch, stop in at Hamilton Cafe next to the museum
(502 S. Palm Drive). Here you can get elegant salads, sandwiches or pastas
with a glass or wine or an espresso.
Getting there:
By bus, Hamilton Field is reachable by the local Golden Gate Transit bus
No. 49 and from San Francisco by Golden Gate Transit commute bus No. 58.
See www.goldengate.org for routes and schedules.
By car, from San Francisco, go over the Golden Gate Bridge and head north
on Highway 101, exiting at Nave Drive. Take the second right onto Main
Gate Road. When you come to the Palm Drive/South Palm Drive triangle, bear
right and turn into the parking lot.
This article was written by Gail Todd and published in the San Francisco Chronicle on November 26, 2009. Click HERE for complete article.
Kyle Frazier, CRS
Morgan Lane Marin Real Estate
(415) 350-9440
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