Future Home Of Starfleet Academy

After living in Montana from 1996-2000, I was ready to reenter the world of young people, jobs and things happening (Montana is pretty isolated), and one of my favorite cities in the west was San Francisco. And where better to have a dog, plus transition from the country life to an urban existence, than SF's own national park- The Presidio.

And it didn't take me long to realize that my new home was the future home of Star Trek's Starfleet! Admittedly, there wasn't a lot of evidence that things were heading in that direction- an old Burger King, dilapidated army housing, George Lucas. But hey, it could happen. It's an amazing location- beautiful beaches and woods, views of the Bridge and bay, proximity to downtown. And perhaps in the future (during the Eugenics Wars? WWIII?), the Army will retake the Presidio and then the Army will become Starfleet or something.

Let's look at some images from various series to check out what's the Presidio will look like in the future...

Here is a map of Starfleet Academy- looks like it occupies most of the Main Post and Fort Scott areas Main Post and Fort Scott areas of the Presidio. My apartment isn't really on the map (east of Starfleet Academy highlighted zone). But if I squint my eyes, I think it says that I live in the area of Starfleet Headquarters, most likely in the same location the new Letterman Digital Arts Center. This supports my geeky theory that at somehow, the Lucas Center is the impetus for Starfleet HQ (perhaps some super computer is involved).


The next two images are from ST: The Motion Picture. Looks like that part of Starfleet HQ is on the Marin County side of the Golden Gate Bridge (i.e. someone goofed).



Ah, and here we are at the Starfleet Academy circa The Next Generation era. The location of the GG Bridge perfectly coincides with the map above. Starfleet Academy is firmly within the Presidio grounds and the future is placid and good...


...until the Breen Raid On San Francisco! Noooo! What did they do to the Academy? And the bridge- it's ruined! Damn those Breen! Upon further inspection, the Breen must have used a relocation beam on the Academy since we are back on the Marin side of the bridge (unless a huge city has been constructed in the Marin Headlands).


And here we see Voyager era Starfleet Academy and everything is back to normal. Except we are somehow still on the Marin side of the bridge- apparently that couldn't be fixed.


Here is a much more comprehensive look at San Francisco of the future as seen in Star Trek tv shows and films. As a Trek uber-geek, it's really cool to be in the Presidio and its a rare opportunity to live in a national park without being a park ranger. Amongst my Trekker comrades, living the Presidio is the ultimate bragging rights. And I know Timmy loves running the trails every day! But, why is it that the city that hosts the future has no annual Star Trek convention? Hmm...

Also had an opportunity back in 1998 to visit Riverside, Iowa, the future birthplace of Captain Kirk. To be honest, I remember virtually nothing about the place. It was hot and boring, I was fighting my girlfriend at the time, and all I got out of it was a stupid picture of me standing by the USS Riverside as pictured below. Invasion Iowa with Bill Shatner was also filmed in Riverside- saw the promos for it and wasn't interested, though I didn't make the Riverside connection until just now.




And some say that the smelting chimney in my old stomping grounds Anaconda, Montana has an ominous resemblance to the Dark Tower of Barad-dur. You be the judge...