BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
X-WR-CALNAME:www.indybay.org
PRODID:-//indybay/ical// v1.0//EN
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:Indybay-18887658
SEQUENCE:19065548
CREATED:20260726T040600Z
DESCRIPTION:The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel, a San Francisco landmark since 1915, 
 continues its monthly speaker series, Making History Fun Again, designed to 
 celebrate the city’s legendary past through lively storytelling, 
 fascinating personalities, and unforgettable local history.\n\nFor the 
 August 20 speaker presentation, The Clift Hotel is pleased to feature and 
 celebrate the History of the Presidio and its 250th anniversary. Like the 
 United States and Mission Dolores, 1776 serves as a pivotal date for 
 another national treasure: the Presidio of San Francisco. Established 250 
 years ago as an outpost of Imperial Spain, the Presidio ultimately became 
 the longest continually operating military post on the West Coast, under 
 the flags of Spain, Mexico and the United States. Rob Thomson, Federal 
 Preservation Officer for the Presidio Trust, will present the history of 
 the Presidio, from its pre-contact beginnings, through its 217 years of 
 military use, to today’s status as a beloved National Park site and one 
 of the most successful historic preservation projects in the country. 
 \n\nAbout the Speaker\n\nRob Thomson is trained as an archaeologist and 
 historic preservation planner.  He has worked for the Presidio Trust in 
 San Francisco since 2006 and currently manages the agency’s historic 
 preservation and cultural resources program as its Federal Preservation 
 Officer.  Prior to the Trust, Rob developed historic preservation training 
 programs in Southeast Asia for the Getty Conservation Institute in Los 
 Angeles, and worked on archaeological field projects in Virginia, 
 California, and East Africa.  He has written extensively on historic 
 preservation policy in the US and Asia, including a co-authored book 
 entitled Architectural Conservation in Asia: National Experiences & 
 Practice.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in archaeology from the 
 University of Virginia and a master’s degree in historic preservation 
 from Columbia University.\n\nEvent Details\n\nWhat: Making History Fun 
 Again — Speaker Series - History of the Presidio / 250th 
 Anniversary
Featured \nSpeaker: Rob Thomson - Federal Preservation 
 Officer, Presidio Trust
\nWhen: Thursday, August 20, 2026 | 5:00 p.m. 
 Cocktail Hour | 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Program
\nWhere: The Redwood Room, The 
 Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel
\nAdmission: Complimentary with 
 RSVP\n\nUpcoming Speaker Series Lineup\n\nThursday, September 17 - Kevin 
 Kopjak Panel - History of the Performing Arts\nThursday, October 15 - Rae 
 Alexander - KQED and Author of Unsung Heroines: 35 Women Who Changed the 
 Bay Area\nThursday, November 19 - Heather Knight (NYTimes) - leading a 
 panel that includes Will Hearst (ALTA, formerly SF Examiner), Wendy Tokuda 
 (formerly KPIX), Joe FItzgerald Rodriguez (SF Standard), John Rothmann 
 (formerly KGO) - History of Media \n\nAbout The Clift Royal Sonesta 
 Hotel\n\nLocated at 495 Geary Street, The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel blends 
 contemporary design with timeless character. Home to the legendary Redwood 
 Room, the hotel has been a cultural fixture of San Francisco since 1915. 
 Following a multimillion-dollar renovation, The Clift offers 372 stylish 
 guest rooms and suites, a state-of-the-art event space, and an enduring 
 commitment to hospitality that is — and always has been — legendary. 
 Learn more at Sonesta Press Room / The Clift or by calling (415) 
 775-4700.\n https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2026/07/25/18887658.php
SUMMARY:The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel Continues Its Speaker Series: Making History Fun Again
LOCATION:The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel - 495 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2026/07/25/18887658.php
DTSTART:20260821T010000Z
DTEND:20260821T020000Z
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR