About El Polín Spring
Located in the heart of the Presidio's largest watershed, Tennessee Hollow, El Polín Spring is central in the area's history. For more than a thousand years, the native Ohlone used it as a seasonal camp, gathering plants and water. In 1776, the Spanish established their fort within walking distance of the spring. In 1812, Spanish and Mexican colonial families – including pioneering resident Juana Briones – set up a community of adobe houses, making El Polín Spring San Francisco's first suburb. In the 1850s, the U.S. Army built a dam here, and a century later pushed the creek underground and built housing on top. Through all these periods, birds, butterflies, and other wildlife have found shelter and food in the area's diverse habitats.
Thanks to a decade-long restoration which brought the stream back above ground and restored native plant communities, today El Polín Spring is The Spot in the Presidio for birdwatching. Families come here to enjoy the quaint picnic and barbeque area at the spring, located just a hop, skip, and jump from Julius Kahn Playground. Curious kids on field trips and history lovers learn from this "outdoor classroom," where archaeological evidence of the site's past is still being uncovered. Hikers stop for a relaxing respite before continuing their journey on a nearby trail.
About the Geocache
The Maple Class (ages 3-4 years) from Stretch the Imagination preschool inspired The Presidio Trust to install this geocache for all to find. El Polin Spring is their starting point for the day and it is a magical and special place for them. They are excited to share this place, their treasures, and their thoughts about geocaching with this global treasure hunting community!
El Polin Spring through the eyes of preschoolers...
This place is amazing isn’t it? There’s lots of stuff that’s different than each other.
It’s very very special because it has a lot of ground and a lot of leaves too.
I heard lots of birds.
Right there a hummingbird!
I think birdies like to land on plants so they might live here.
Plants that look like green because they are so special.
There’s beautiful flowers there. They look like red orange.
There’s water. There’s a well, it goes to the marsh Presidio.
The water trail. There’s water going everywhere.
The only place where it is...water is special!
The leaves on the willow tree. It’s so beautiful too. I wish we could bring it home.
We do gratitude there.
We’ll dream about El Polin, that’s a good idea.