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

Defending the Golden Gate

Photographed By Denise Boose, October 15, 2016

1. Defending the Golden Gate Marker

Marker located on the top floor on the bay side.

Inscription. This level is called the "barbette tier" Cannon mounted "en barbette" have carriages which permit soldiers to fire them over a parapet (or wall). The parapet here is 7 feet 2 inches thick.

Fort Point's barbette cannon could sink any wooden ship entering the Golden Gate. No enemy vessel ever tried to pass the guns of Fort Point. "From the barbette, some shell practice was had, the target being on the opposite shore, at Lime Point. But the fuses proved imperfect, the shells exploded almost immediately upon starting on their journey. This of course will be at once remedied." San Francisco Call, July 14, 1864
newspaper reporter Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)

Erected by Fort Point National Historic Site Serivices.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. A significant historical date for this entry is July 14, 1864.

Location. 37° 48.635′ N, 122° 28.626′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Presidio of San Francisco. Marker can be reached from Marine Drive. Marker is located on Building 201 on the bay side of the top floor of the Fort Point Historical Site. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Francisco CA 94123, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this

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marker. A different marker also named Defending the Golden Gate (here, next to this marker); Fort Point Light (here, next to this marker); Fort Point National Historic Site (within shouting distance of this marker); Castillo de San Joaquin (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Point (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Golden Gate Bridge: Vision, Genius and Expert Care (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Lasting Monument (approx. 0.2 miles away); All in a Day's Work (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

Photographed By Denise Boose, October 15, 2016

2. Defending the Golden Gate Marker

Photo Displayed on Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Denise Boose, October 15, 2016

3. Photo Displayed on Marker

The Spanish recognized the strategic importance of the "Point" in 1776 when selecting the location of the Presidio of San Francisco. In 1794, they built the Castillo de San Joaquin and armed it which bronze and iron cannon.

Photographed By Denise Boose, October 15, 2016

4. Photo Displayed on Marker

In 1853, the United States Army blasted away the bluff where the Castillo de San Joauin stood in order to build a modern fortification closer to sea level-the fort at Fort Point.

Barbette Battery 8-Inch Columbiad 1844 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Denise Boose, October 15, 2016

5. Barbette Battery 8-Inch Columbiad 1844

This is located on the first floor of Fort Point.

Fort Point, San Franscico, California under the Golden Gate Bridge. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Denise Boose, October 14, 2016

6. Fort Point, San Franscico, California under the Golden Gate Bridge.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2017, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 724 times since then and 54 times this year. Last updated on February 1, 2019, by Bruce Guthrie of Silver Spring, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 26, 2017, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.