"Making History Fun Again" Speaker Series at The Clift
About this Event
The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel, a San Francisco landmark since 1915, continues its monthly speaker series, “Making History Fun Again,” designed to honor the city’s legendary past through lively storytelling and unforgettable personalities.
Up Next - Thursday, August 20th:
The Clift Hotel is pleased to feature and celebrate the History of the Presidio and its 250 th 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.
Upcoming Speaker Series Lineup:
Thursday, August 20
Rob Thomson - History of the Presidio 250th Anniversary
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
Will Hearst - leading a panel that includes Heather Knight (NY Times), Wendy Tokuda (formerly KPIX), Joe FItzgerald Rodriguez (SF Standard), Alexis Madrigal (KQED) - History of Media
Thu, July 16, 2026
🕑: 05:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Cocktail Hour
🕑: 06:00 PM - 07:30 PM
Featured Speaker: Ben Fong-Torres
Host: Ben Fong-Torres
🕑: 07:30 PM
Live Jazz with Sacha Boutros
Host: Sacha Boutros
Info: After Ben Fong-Torres, experience sophisticated swing, torch songs, and timeless classics in the Redwood Room with Sacha Boutros! Sacha brings her signature blend of Parisian elegance and American jazz to one of the city’s most iconic venues. A free table reservation via OpenTable is recommended: www.redwoodroomsf.com
Thu, August 20, 2026
🕑: 05:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Cocktail Hour
🕑: 06:00 PM - 07:30 PM
Featured Speaker: Rob Thomson, History of the Presidio / 250th Anniversary
Host: Rob Thomson
Thu, September 17, 2026
🕑: 06:00 PM - 07:30 PM
Featured Speaker: Kevin Kopjak Panel - History of the Performing Arts
Thu, October 15, 2026
🕑: 06:00 PM - 07:30 PM
Featured Speaker: Rae Alexander - KQED and Author of Unsung Heroines: 35 Women
Thu, November 19, 2026
🕑: 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Featured Speaker: Will Hearst
Host: Will Hearst
Info: Leading a panel that includes Heather Knight (NY Times), Wendy Tokuda (formerly KPIX), Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez (SF Standard), Alexis Madrigal (KQED) - History of Media
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
