The 2009 United States Mint Proof Set® contains 18 coins, each bearing the "S" mint mark of the United States Mint at San Francisco.


Included in this set are four Presidential $1 Coins honoring past Presidents of the United States: William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, James K. Polk and Zachary Taylor; the six quarter-dollar coins honoring the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories: Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands; the four Lincoln Bicentennial One Cent Coins recognizing the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth; a new Native American $1 Coin; and the Jefferson nickel, Roosevelt dime and Kennedy half-dollar.

The vast San Francisco Bay and Delta region of California is placed at the union of Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. It is often referred to as the San Francisco Bay estuary. Since the detection of gold in the Sierra Nevada foothills in 1848, this area has undergone rapid, large-scale, and permanent changes driven by population migration involved to the region's natural setting and economic opportunities. The consequent land use changes, particularly urbanization, have resulted in the loss of wetlands, alteration of freshwater inflows, contamination of water, sediments and biota, and declines of fish and wildlife species.


The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has maintained a broad program of multi-disciplinary research studies, both basic and useful, in the San Francisco Bay estuary and its watershed. The studies help us understand the point and impact of these changes, as they also help decision-makers use science to help mitigate adverse things. USGS studies often are conducted in cooperation with other Federal, State, and local agencies, and have been planned to increase our understanding of main issues. These issues include waste disposal, water flow management, harbor/channel dredging, wetland restoration, food web processes, exotic species impacts, natural hazards mitigation, and maintaining quality of life.

"Access USGS-San Francisco Bay & Delta" was created to help distribute this information via the World Wide Web. Here you will find examples of USGS publications, posters, maps, and other information on the San Francisco Bay & Delta region from many disciplines.

Build to protect undersea minefields laid external the Golden Gate, this Endicott-era battery was and completed and arm in 1904. Fortifications included four 6-inch guns mounted on dying carriages; these guns had a range of nine miles and could fire at the rate of two rounds per minute. The unique guns were dismounted in 1917 for use in World War I, but the battery was customized to receive two 6-inch guns on simple barbette carriages in 1920. During World War II, the Sixth Coast Artillery Regiment manned the two guns at Battery Chamberlin, which were placed under camouflage netting to deter possible air attack. In 1948, the Coast Artillery Corps was deactivated, the battery disarmed, and the guns scrapped.


Battery Chamberlin named in honor of head Lowell A. Chamberlin, First Artillery, who served with difference in the Civil War and remained an artillery officer until the 1890's. He died in 1899.


In 1977, the National Park Service traditional a 6-inch gun and failing carriage from the Smithsonian organization and installed them in gun emplacement No. 4. Demonstrations of this 50-ton rifle-similar to the original armament are conducted on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. An underground cartridge room also is open for inspection and contains photos and small exhibits on the coastal defenses of San Francisco. Battery Chamberlin is located at the north end of the Baker Beach parking lot.

The San Francisco Air value Resource group is developing a car free tourism website for visitors to San Francisco. Many visitors to San Francisco select to drive while plentiful public transportation options exist - options that could save visitors both time and cash. The team's car free plan aims to take present information on transportation options in the City and make the information more accessible and available.


The team has also facilitated cartography updates on the Transit to Trail chart, published as a supplement in the April-June 2009 Bay Nature Magazine. This map provides information about using transit to reach San Francisco area parks and recreation and will be available on the car free website soon. If you would like information on the San Francisco Resource Team on Air Quality please contact Stephanie Anderson at 510-763-2500 ext.1.

Member Organizations

• BART
• Town of San Francisco Department of Environment
• SF Municipal Transportation Agency
• The Presidio Trust
• UCSFM
• Sierra Club
• San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

Devoted November 29, 1960, the West Coast World War II Memorial is a rounded wall of California stone set in a grove of Monterey pine and cypress. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, it bears the names of 413 members of the armed services who were lost or covered at sea in U.S. Pacific waters between 1941 and 1945.

The memorial was built by the American Battle Monuments Commission, a governmental agency also responsible for its preservation. Cemeteries and memorials maintained by the A.B.M.C. save the legacy of American servicemen whose remains were not returned to this country for final interment. The West Coast Memorial is one of three A.B.M.C. memorials on U.S. soil dedicated to lost soldiers of World War II; the others are the East Coast Memorial at Battery Park in New York City and the Honolulu Memorial in Hawaii.

Enclosed by a white picket fence and shaded by Monterey pines, the pet cemetery is the final sleeping place for hundreds of loyal animals owned by families stationed at the Presidio. Most of the serious markers imitate those found in military cemeteries and now and then return the pets' military life-listing birthplaces as well as Australia, China, England, and Germany. A lot of markers also contain family names and owners' position which include majors, generals, and colonels. Others contain only a simple epitaph, such as "A GI pet. He did his moment." As in many military cemeteries, there are also markers to several "unknowns".


Important markers in the favorite cemetery date back to the 1950's, when the Presidio was home to something like 2,000 military families. Though there are no executive records regarding the site, some credit approval of the pet cemetery to Lt. General Joseph M. Swing, who was the commander of the Presidio at the time. In any case, there are various legends nearby the cemetery, which some believe was originally a burial ground for nineteenth-century cavalry horses or World War II guard dogs.


During the 1970's, the pet cemetery fell into disrepair. Legend has it that an secret former Navy staff became the illegal caretaker in those years and repaired the failing headstones and repainted the fence. It is believed that he placed the military-style warning sign seen at the cemetery entrance. Nowadays, the pet cemetery is officially closed to new interments.

Located near the gun batteries of the coastal bluffs, Fort Scott was recognized in 1912 to serve as head office for the Coastal Artillery Corps of the San Francisco Bay area. Mission Revival style buildings the first of this style to be built on the Presidio-characterize the post and the U-shaped parade ground breaks from fixed quadrangular plan. With the advent of missiles and long-range bombers after World War II, Fort Scott lost its planned importance and became part of the Presidio in 1956. The post was finally converted to an Army Education Center.

The Bay Area Air value Management District receives around 3,000 air pollution complaint every year from members of the public. Virtually 1,700 of these complaints are connected to smell. Members of the public are keenly aware of air pollution events in their communities and often act as first indicators of air quality troubles to the Region. Suitable declaration of complaints is one of the most chief and hard responsibilities of Region staff. In fact, other than a violation in development, responding to complaints from the public takes preference over all other duties assigned to inspectors.


If you wish to record a complaint about air pollution, the following information will tell you about the process and give you some instructions that will help us respond to your complaint in the most professional way.

Common Information

• Every complaint is investigated individually by a field checker.
• Whenever likely, complainants are contacted in person unless they specially request otherwise.
• The names and addresses of complainants are secret and are divulged to no one but Air District staff, except where required in matters during before the court. Or, you may record your complaint in secret.
• District Inspectors prepare a written report for each complaint inquiry and you may apply for a copy of the report if you wish.
• Complaints are never solicited by District workers. Air pollution complaints should be natural and self-generated.

Air Pollution Complaint analysis

Complaints are regularly received for many air contaminants which may include smell, smoke, dust, and argue. During regular business hours, complaints are dispatched to an checker as soon as received, or, with very few exceptions, no later than 30 minutes after receipt. This ensures a prompt, timely analysis while the event is in improvement.When complaints are dispatched, Checkers proceed directly to the region of the assumed source to determine the cause of the complaint. Checkers are often able to quickly determine the likely source of emission. Complainants are contacted as soon as possible under the conditions at the time of inquiry. Checkers will contact each complainant and will verify smell complaints in the presence of the complainant whenever possible.While Checkers attempt to ascertain whether a violation of air quality regulations has occurred, air quality complaints may even occur when an operation is in full compliance with policy. But even if the suspected facility is in compliance, Air District Checkers will still strive to achieve early interference on any possible problems where possible in order to achieve successful decision The goal is to mitigate any negative impact on the public. If a violation is documented, enforcement action will be taken.


Public Nuisance

The air District can receive many complaints that are confirmed to a exacting plant or ability. This occurrence may result in a purpose that the facility is creating a public pain. The California Health and Security Code and District rules prohibit emissions of air contaminants which cause nuisance or annoyance to a considerable number of people, or that present a threat to public health, or damage to property.

Notice of Violation

When a public nuisance or other violation of state, national or District policy and regulations occurs, the District may issue a Notice of Violation to the accountable individual or ability. California law provide that violations of air pollution regulations may be prosecuted through either managerial, social, or illegal processes.

If an individual or facility does not achieve compliance promptly after enforcement action has been taken, the Air Pollution Control Officer may petition the Air District's Hearing Board for an Order of Abatement. Abatement Orders may require the addition or adjustment of air pollution control equipment and changes in operating procedures within a specified time-frame to eliminate the release of offensive air contaminants or excessive emissions.

Tips on Making a Complaint

Air pollution complaints should be made as soon as possible after detecting a smell or observing smoke or argue. The sooner a complaint is received, the sooner it is dispatched to the checker and the investigation can begin.

When making a smell complaint, a good report is very helpful. Try to associate the smell with something memorable to most people such as rotten eggs, rotten cabbage, sweet or sour chemicals, burning plastic, garlic, chlorine, asphalt. Some other useful descriptions are: oily, musty, metallic, pungent, light and heavy. Other helpful information is whether the odor is intermittent but recurring, or constant for longer periods of time, and how long you have been experiencing the problem. It is very important for us to know what impact the emissions have had on you. It is also main to phone in complaints on each day that the difficulty is observed.

Seized government cars are available at police auctions in San Francisco. The local residents will vouch for the good conditions of the cars and their maintenance in police auctions. These police auctions are very popular among the locals especially for buying a second car for the family. Repo car auctions are another good source for buying good condition cars at cheap prices.


San Francisco has many auction firms. These auction firms hold auctions at various locations everyday. These auctions are advertised in local media like television and newspapers. This allows the participation of local residents in the auctions. Online auctions are also held these days. Online police auctions are increasing in popularity because of the convenience involved and the prices the cars are sold at. If you have a computer and an internet connection you can take part in the online auctions held and purchase a car without even stepping out of your house. This is possible by registering online for the online auction. Once this is done you can view the cars and bid for them online and on winning the car would be delivered at your home.


There are live auctions conducted by the firms. These are good to attend. They also require you to register before taking part. The police auctions usually have cars from criminals, illegal cars, abandoned cars, from the state government, the military, the FBI, the banks, hospitals etc. The cars are all pooled together and their papers verified and legalized if found to be illegal or new papers drawn up for cars without them. These cars are then auctioned off. The cars are in good condition and maintained very well and clean to be taken home as soon as it is bought.

Balclutha

The 1886 square-rigged ship Balclutha.
Overall length 301 feet
Length of deck 256.5 feet
Beam 38.6 feet
Depth 22.7 feet
Gross tonnage 1689
Height of mainmast 145 feet

• Balclutha is a three-masted, steel-hulled, square-rigged ship built to carry a variety of cargo all over the world.

• Launched in 1886 by the Charles Connell and Company shipyard near Glasgow, Scotland, the ship carried goods around Cape Horn (tip of South America) 17 times.

• It took a crew of about 26 men to handle the ship at sea with her complex rigging and 25 sails.
  

C A Thayer

Extreme Length 219 feet
Length on Deck 156 feet
Beam 36 feet
Depth 11.38 feet
Gross tonnage 453
Height of mainmast 105 feet

• The CA Thayer is a wooden-hulled, three-masted schooner, designed for carrying lumber.

• She was built in 1895 in Northern California at Hans D. Bendixsen's shipyard in Fairhaven, CA.

• The original hull was made of dense, old-growth Douglas fir carefully chosen for shipbuilding.

• She sailed with a small crew consisting of four seamen, two mates, a cook, and the captain.

Once, hundreds of sailing schooners carried lumber to San Francisco from Washington, Oregon and the California redwood Coast. Built in 1895, C.A. Thayer was once part of that mighty Pacific Coast fleet. Today, she is a rare survivor from the days when strong canvas sails billowed over tall deckloads of freshly-milled fir and redwood.

Eureka

Overall length 299.5 feet
Extreme Width 78 feet
Gross tonnage 2420
Horsepower 1500
Passengers 2300
Automobiles 120

• Eureka is a wooden-hulled, sidewheel paddle steamboat.

• From the passenger deck up, she is nearly identical fore and aft. Her "double-end" design made disembarking quicker and easier.

• Eureka's large, "walking beam" steam engine remains intact.

Alma

Overall length 80 feet
Registered length 59 feet
Beam 22.6 feet
Depth 4 feet
Gross tonnage 41.76
Height of foremast 67 feet

• Alma is a wooden-hulled scow schooner built in 1891 to carry bulk cargo.
  

• The flat-bottomed hull was designed to navigate the shallow waters of the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta and to rest on the bottom at low tide.

• With few bridges and connecting roads, scow schooners delivered goods all over the Bay and Delta much as trucks do today.

• By 1880 there were 250 sailing scows on San Francisco Bay.

Situated in the northern center of the Presidio, the San Francisco National Cemetery offers a breathtaking final resting place for the nation's military veterans and their families. Framed by Monterey Cypress and other majestic trees, the cemetery rests on a slope overlooking the San Francisco Bay. Among the 30,000 Americans laid to rest here are Civil War generals, Medal of Honor recipients, Buffalo Soldiers, and a Union spy.


Shortly after the United States assumed control of the Presidio, the Army established a post cemetery on the current site of the National Cemetery. The first known American burial at this location occurred in 1854. After a petition to the War Department by Presidio commander Lt. Col. George P. Andrews, General Order 133 established "a part of the reservation at the Presidio, including the post cemetery thereon...to be known as the San Francisco National Cemetery." Originally less than ten acres large, it was placed under the control of the Quartermaster General's office in 1884 as the first National Cemetery on the west coast.


The cemetery experienced a great increase in both interments and acreage over the next fifty years. It also sported a number of architectural changes. In 1915, a concrete rostrum was built to hold official services, and in 1921 the Quartermaster Department built a mortuary chapel on the premises. In 1928, the cemetery walls were repositioned and the original main entrance was relocated to the west. The current main entrance dates to 1931. During a five-year improvement plan finished in 1929, the Army remodeled the lodge to conform to the Mission Revival style architecture prevalent throughout the Presidio. The final expansion of the cemetery occurred in 1932, when it reached its current size of 28.34 acres. In 1973, the cemetery officially closed to new interments except in reserved gravesites.


The Department of Veterans Affairs attends to gardening at the cemetery as well as the cleaning of tombstones. For more information about the San Francisco National Cemetery or to get help locating gravesites:

• write to the address below:

US Department Of Veterans Affairs
1300 Sneath Lane
San Bruno, CA 94066