Main Post in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Montgomery Street Barracks
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 16, 2014
1. Montgomery Street Barracks Marker
Captions: The morning salute on the drill field in front of the barracks, 1901 (upper, left); A day room with billiard tables in one barracks in 1931. This was where enlisted men relaxed when off duty. (bottom, left); A second floor dormitory about 1930. These large spaces were subdivided in 1972 to create rooms for two to four soldiers and modern bathrooms. (bottom, right); The 30th Infantry at the Presidio, 1927. (sidebar, top); 30th U.S. Infantry, Company C, regimental basketball championship team on the steps of their barracks, 1930. (sidebar, center).
Inscription.
Montgomery Street Barracks. . In the years between the Civil War (1861-1864(sic)) and the Spanish-American War (1898), the health of the army improved drastically. The new concern for soldiers’ well-being; the emphasis on sanitation, which became realizable in the new buildings at the larger posts; the new recreation and athletic facilities—all contributed to a healthier and more cheerful environment. - Edward M. Coffman, The Old Army: A Portrait of the American Army in Peacetime, 1784-1898 , As the Indian Wars wound down by 1890, the Army closed frontier posts across the West and redeployed troops. The Presidio, with nearby rail and ship transport, was an ideal place to locate soldiers who could be quickly dispatched across the West or the Pacific. , These five large barracks, built in 1895-97, were the first brick buildings at the formerly all-wood Main Post. Each of these U-shaped barracks housed two companies of 109 men each. All five barracks had company offices, large day rooms for relaxation, mess halls and kitchens on their first floor and large open dormitories on their second floor. Latrines and showers were in the basement. , Sidebar, right, “Rock of the Marne” , The 30th U.S. Infantry Regiment, was highly decorated by the French government for pushing back the German offensive at the Marne River in July 1918. They occupied these barracks from 1922 to 1941 and were known as “San Francisco’s Own.”
In the years between the Civil War (1861-1864(sic)) and the Spanish-American War (1898), the health of the army improved drastically. The new concern for soldiers’ well-being; the emphasis on sanitation, which became realizable in the new buildings at the larger posts; the new recreation and athletic facilities—all contributed to a healthier and more cheerful environment. - Edward M. Coffman, The Old Army: A Portrait of the American Army in Peacetime, 1784-1898
As the Indian Wars wound down by 1890, the Army closed frontier posts across the West and redeployed troops. The Presidio, with nearby rail and ship transport, was an ideal place to locate soldiers who could be quickly dispatched across the West or the Pacific.
These five large barracks, built in 1895-97, were the first brick buildings at the formerly all-wood Main Post. Each of these U-shaped barracks housed two companies of 109 men each. All five barracks had company offices, large day rooms for relaxation, mess halls and kitchens on their first floor and large open dormitories on their second floor. Latrines and showers were in the basement.
Sidebar, right
“Rock of the Marne”
The 30th U.S. Infantry Regiment, was highly decorated by the French government for pushing back the German offensive
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at the Marne River in July 1918. They occupied these barracks from 1922 to 1941 and were known as “San Francisco’s Own.”
Erected by Goldern Gate National Recreation Area.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1918.
Location. 37° 48.109′ N, 122° 27.479′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Main Post. Marker is on Montgomery Street near Lincoln Boulevard, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 75 Montgomery Street, San Francisco CA 94129, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. The Montgomery Barracks are located in the San Francisco Persidio, a part of the Golden
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 16, 2014
2. Montgomery Street Barracks Marker
This marker is on the left.
Gate National Recreation Area.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 16, 2014
3. Montgomery Street Barracks
Photographed By Adam Margolis, December 12, 2023
4. Montgomery Street Barracks Marker
Photographed By Adam Margolis, December 12, 2023
5. Montgomery Street Barracks Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 19, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 21, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 635 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on March 21, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 4, 5. submitted on March 11, 2024, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.