The building at the bottom of this picture is Fort Point. Many people look down upon this structure when they walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, but they never go to visit, which is a shame. Fort Point was completed just before the American civil war. Its purpose was to protect San Francisco harbor from Confederate and foreign attack during and after the U.S. Civil War. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began work on Fort Point in 1853. Plans specified that the lowest tier of artillery be as close as possible to water level so cannonballs could ricochet across the water’s surface to hit enemy ships at the water-line. The 90-foot cliff was blasted down to 15 feet above sea level. While manned throughout the Civil War, it never saw an enemy. Its beautifully arched casements display the art of the master brick mason from the Civil War period. The fort is only open on weekends, but to wander the insides and marvel at the arched casements is so very much worth a visit. It is also a wonderful area to just sit and marvel at the beauty of the bay.
For more information on Fort Point please read my article in Untapped Cities.
I love seeing places all round the world -where I have never visited. and thanks for visiting my blog.
Lovely photo and I have to agree with you on liking photos straight out of the camera and seeing the real thing.
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Great photo, well positioned.
Beautiful shot! I love the perspective! Now I have another place to put on my list to visit in SF.
Beautiful! Both photo and the familiar bridge.
I guess I never going to see that in real.
Interesting post about Fort Point! Nice photo too!
Beautiful! I went over this bridge in 06 on a vacation. Beautiful city. I wish I would have known about this Fort, I’d have stopped there for sure
i love that bridge! beautiful shot.
I’ve never gone inside. I’ll have to go inside now. Thank you for the suggestion.
Love the clarity of this photo — appropriate for this holiday weekend. Someday I will visit but until then I am happy to appreciate from a distance.
New GFC follower
Blessings,
Pamela
Never even HEARD of Fort Point! Loved seeing/hearing about it now!