Fort Point National Historic Site, in San Francisco’s Presidio, consists of a historic United States Army fort. Constructed between 1853 and 1861, Fort Point initially served to defend San Francisco Bay from Confederate ships during the American Civil War (1861-1865). Today, the fort sits under the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge, which was built in the 1930’s.
The U.S. Army built Fort Point to accommodate 500 soldiers and 126 massive cannons. Advances in cannon technology eventually made the brick fort outdated. Troops left Fort Point in 1886, and the Army removed its cannons about 1900. For many years, the fort served only as a storage facility and training center. From 1933 to 1937, Fort Point was the base of operations for the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. During World War II (1939-1945), about 100 U.S. soldiers occupied the fort. Armed with searchlights and rapid-fire cannons, they protected an antisubmarine net strung across the bay.
Fort Point is a well-preserved example of military architecture of the early 1800’s. It is the only brick fort on the West Coast of the United States. Visitors can view exhibits of enlisted men’s and officers’ living quarters, a surgeon’s quarters, and an officers’ mess hall from the 1800’s. Examples of weapons from the same period are on display as well. The site contains additional exhibits on African Americans in the U.S. military, the roles of American women during wartime, and the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge.
A historic lighthouse stands atop Fort Point. Displays provide historical information on the fort’s previous and current lighthouses and lighthouse keepers. The lighthouse stopped operating following completion of the Golden Gate Bridge. The bridge blocked the lighthouse’s beam.
Fort Point became a national historic site in 1970. The National Park Service operates the site.
