The Long Now Foundation

The Long Now Foundation is a cultural institution that challenges the modern habit of thinking only in short-term cycles. Established in 01996, the organization famously uses a five-digit year format, writing the current year as 02026 to emphasize the vast span of the next ten millennia. Its mission is to act as a counterweight to today's faster and cheaper mindset by promoting long-term responsibility and patience. The foundation is headquartered here at the Fort Mason Center, an old military site that has been transformed into a home for creative and historical endeavors.