Main Post in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Centennial Tree

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, July 26, 2025

1. Centennial Tree Marker

Inscription.
Planted July 4, 1876
by
Angelo Beretta
Post Trader
Gift from his Family
July 4, 1976

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Patriots & Patriotism. In addition, it is included in the Historic Trees series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1876.

Location. 37° 48.004′ N, 122° 27.493′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Main Post. It is on Anza Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 85 Anza Avenue, San Francisco CA 94129, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on California’s Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Bicentennial Tree

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Ordoñez Gun (within shouting distance of this marker); Infantry Row (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Stone Powder Magazine (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Sixth United States Army (about 400 feet away); Ammunition Magazine (about 400 feet away); Montgomery Street Barracks (about 400 feet away); Sixth Army Headquarters (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

Other markers no longer nearby. War in the Philippines (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named The Ordoñez Gun (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . Discover eight memorials and monuments that provide a glimpse into Presidio history.

7. The Centennial and Bicentennial Trees

The Declaration of Independence is commemorated near the Main Parade Lawn by two living monuments. One tree celebrates the country’s centennial on July 4, 1876. The Presidio’s post trader at the time, Angelo Beretta, originally planted three eucalyptus
Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, July 26, 2025

2. Centennial Tree Marker
trees – one for each of his children – in front of his store at the Main Post in 1876. The Army removed two of them as it expanded the Main Parade Ground, but the third tree was preserved by a special act of Congress and became known as the Centennial Tree. A few yards away, on March 7, 1976, another tree – a Monterey cypress – was planted as the Bicentennial Tree with a commemorative bronze plaque from the Daughters of the American Revolution.

(Submitted on September 21, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon.)

Centennial Tree image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, July 26, 2025

3. Centennial Tree

The commemorative tree is a eucalyptus.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 21, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 122 times since then and 82 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 21, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.