Though today dwarfed by the Golden Gate Bridge, Fort Point was once the most awesome feature at this narrow entrance to the San Francisco Bay. This mighty fort kept an armed and unwavering vigil over the golden gateway for almost half a century until its original cannons were removed, but no enemy ever challenged its might.

Today, Fort Point is a National Historic Site. You can explore its brick casemates, marvel at its grand arches and spiral stairs, participate in one of the cannon drills, or join a tour.

VISIT FORT POINT: TIPS AND HIGHLIGHTS

• Acquaint yourself with the fort’s Civil War heyday through the guns, cannon, uniforms, and photos on display.
• Discover the fort by the beauty of candlelight on a ranger-led winter-night tour.
• In spring, summer, and fall, rangers demonstrate how to catch crabs from the pier; you can also watch locals haul in sea life, then take home some red, rock, or yellow crabs.
• Explore the powder magazine, kitchen, officers’ quarters, and soldiers’ barracks.
• Take the spiral granite staircase to the top barbette tier for a unique below-the-bridge view of the Golden Gate.
• Park in the Marine Drive, Fort Point lot.

Fort Point’s Active Duty
During the Civil War, 140 soldiers manned Fort Point, which was armed with 65 heavy artillery cannons, four flank howitzers, and five coehorn and six siege mortars. No shots were ever fired, as the Confederates never dared to attack. If they had, the fort’s walls could have theoretically withstood the impact of 10,000 cannonballs before giving way. However, it wasn’t long before the invention of rifled cannons—capable of breaching brick walls—rendered the structure vulnerable. After the Civil War, Fort Point was intermittently garrisoned, and saw its last active duty in World War II.

Fort Point's Origins
During the War of 1812, the British landed in Chesapeake Bay and marched straight into the nation’s capital. Embarrassed by this demonstration of America’s then-weak coastal defenses, President Madison ordered a new system of permanent forts (known as the Third System) to guard the nation’s seaport cities. Completed in 1861 at a cost of $2.8 million, Fort Point was the only one of these “Third System” forts built on the Pacific Coast.