Near Tiburon in Marin County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Over 12,000 Meals a Day Served

Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, July 30, 2022

1. Over 12,000 Meals a Day Served Marker

Inscription. Famous for serving food tastier than standard “Army Chow” this mess hall could seat 1,410 soldiers at one time. During WW II there were three seatings for each meal, and the mess hall served more than 12,000 meals a day. A WW I soldier describing his Thanksgiving dinner wrote -

”…such a luscious turkey, platters over two feet long piled high with the good old bird and such dressing; it was a meal alone. Sweet potatoes, shucked corn, oysters a la Baltimore, I ate over a dozen. Large celery, mined pie – real good crust… I ate until I fairly couldn’t budge.”

The second floor of the mess hall was used for a movie theater, dances, stage entertainment, and as a basketball court.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • War, World I • War, World II.

Location. 37° 51.759′ N, 122° 25.265′ W. Marker is near Tiburon, California, in Marin County. Angel Island is located north of Alcatraz Island and is the largest island in the San Francisco Bay. It is accessed by ferry, private boat, watercraft, or kayak. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Belvedere Tiburon CA 94920, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Guarding the Post (within shouting distance of this marker); 600 Bunkmates

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Fort McDowell’s General Store (within shouting distance of this marker); Supplying the Troops (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Processing People and Paper (about 400 feet away); Bowling and Dollars (about 400 feet away); Ministering to all Faiths (about 500 feet away); Treating the Troops (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tiburon.

More about this marker. The marker is mounted to a metal pole outside the mess hall.

Regarding Over 12,000 Meals a Day Served. The entire island is a state park, except for Point Blunt on the southeastern tip, which is controlled by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Also see . . . US Army on the Island.

"In 1910 and 1911, Fort McDowell was expand into a major facility for receiving recruits and processing military personnel for overseas assignment. Construction included a huge 600 man barracks, a mess hall, and a hospital. During the next few years, this new construction
Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, July 30, 2022

2. Mess Hall and Marker
made Fort McDowell the world's largest and most elaborate military induction center."

(Submitted on August 12, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.)

Angel Island image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, July 30, 2022

3. Angel Island

North side as seen from a departing ferry

Credits. This page was last revised on August 26, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. This page has been viewed 109 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 11, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.