14 - Braving Wind and Waves

WAYSIDE PANEL TITLE: Braving Wind and Waves
PANEL DESCRIPTION: The wayside faces north, on the northern side of the trail.

VIEW FROM WAYSIDE: Facing north, you're looking out towards the bay, though from this vantage, the water is barely visible. A two-story building, and a tall palm tree with a thick, dark trunk obscure the view of the water. From here, you can see the side of the building, which is shaped a bit like a barn, with a multi-angled roof that comes together at a single point at its highest section. The main entrance is to the right, preceded by a small landing accessible by four small stairs. A balcony, supported by columns extending down to the landing, frames the entrance. The building is the office for the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, Ocean Climate Center.

TEXT: Fort Point Life-Saving Station. Activated in 1890, this U.S. Life-Saving Station was built to aid endangered seafarers in the days when San Francisco was one of the world's busiest ports. "Surfmen" braved wind and waves to rescue victims from distressed sailing ships and steamships off the central California coast and in the bay's treacherous waters. Nearly a dozen shipwrecks still lie buried along the Presidio shore.

DESCRIPTION OF IMAGE: A black and white photograph showing the perspective of being out over the water looking back to shore from a long, wooden pier. On land are several two-level buildings and a flagless flagpole.
DESCRIPTION OF IMAGE: A black and white photograph of a small ship with a smokestack, half submerged in water. The Golden Gate Bridge is visible in the background.

CAPTION: Surfboats were launched from a "maritime railway" to ensure quick response to a call from a vessel in distress, such as the oil tanker S.S. Frank Buck.

DESCRIPTION OF IMAGE: Five men are standing in a row in front of a large building with a second-floor balcony. The men are dressed in sweaters and dark coats and hats.

TEXT: Finding a Safer Haven. In 1990, the U.S. Coast Guard, the successor of the U.S. Life-Saving Service, moved its operations across the Golden Gate to the Horseshoe Bay at Fort Baker, where its tradition of lifesaving continues. Nonprofit organizations now use the former boathouse (to your right) and the farther commandant's quarters (to your left).

DIRECTIONS TO NEXT STOP: Walk west just over one tenth of a mile to arrive at the next wayside on the northern side of the trail.