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The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel New Speaker Series: Making History Fun Again
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.
For 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.
About the Speaker
Rob 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.
Event Details
What: Making History Fun Again — Speaker Series - History of the Presidio / 250th Anniversary
Featured Speaker: Rob Thomson - Federal Preservation Officer, Presidio Trust

When: Thursday, August 20, 2026 | 5:00 p.m. Cocktail Hour | 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Program

Where: The Redwood Room, The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel

Admission: Complimentary with RSVP
Upcoming Speaker Series Lineup
Thursday, September 17 - Kevin Kopjak Panel - History of the Performing Arts
Thursday, October 15 - Rae Alexander - KQED and Author of Unsung Heroines: 35 Women Who Changed the Bay Area
Thursday, 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
About The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel
Located 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.
Event Links
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3752667-0
