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

Fort Mason Historic District

U.S. Army Post (1864-1966)

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, October 16, 2013

1. Fort Mason Historic District Marker

Captions: Though San Francisco had grown enormously by 1900. Fort Mason was isolated from the city’s bustle by undeveloped open space. (top right); General Dwight D. Eisenhower inspected Fort Mason in 1946. (center right); Guns were mounted at Fort Mason during the Civil War to guard the harbor and city. (center left).

Inscription. First fortified by the Spanish in 1797, this bluff above the bay was re-armed by the U.S. Army in 1864. The post remained active through the Civil War, western Indian Wars, and conflicts abroad, beginning with the Spanish-American War in 1898. During World War II, Fort Mason was the Army’s logistics center for sending troops and supplies to the Pacific.

Fort Mason was designated a National Historic Landmark on February 4, 1985.

Erected by Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list. A significant historical date for this entry is February 4, 1985.

Location. 37° 48.486′ N, 122° 25.605′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Fort Mason. It is at the intersection of San Francisco Bicycle Route 2 and Van Ness Avenue, on the right when traveling west on San Francisco Bicycle Route 2. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Francisco CA 94109, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on California’s Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: San Francisco Port of Embarkation (approx. 0.2 miles away); Tubbs Cordage Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Brigantine Galilee

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(approx. 0.2 miles away); San Francisco Port of Embarkation (1932-1962) (approx. 0.2 miles away); Scouts On the Water (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Fort Mason Historic District (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sala Burton Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Ship into San Francisco Bay (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

More about this marker. This marker is located near the entrance to the Aquatic Park Pier.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, October 16, 2013

2. Fort Mason Historic District Marker

Aquatic Park and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, October 16, 2013

3. Aquatic Park and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

The marker in near the entrance to the pier.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 750 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 6, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.