Last updated: March 5, 2021
Place
8 - Black Point Fortifications
WAYSIDE PANEL TITLE: Black Point Fortifications (1797 to 1909)
PANEL DESCRIPTION: The wayside faces north and is placed along a cement path that overlooks the bay.
VIEW FROM WAYSIDE: The wayside is positioned on the bluffs of Fort Mason and overlooks the San Franciscan Bay. Ivy clumps in the foreground but gives way to a hillside that descends into Black Point. A low brick parapet lines the point, and a black canon is visible to the left. Further in the distance, one can see Piers 2 and 3 at lower Fort Mason. The Marin Headlands, including Hawk Hill and Fort Baker, and Sausalito are beyond the bay, connected by the Golden Gate Bridge. Dense shrubs and trees are to the right, and a mix of grass and feral blackberry vines blanket the slight hill behind you. The path continues to your left.
TEXT: Defending from an Enemy that Never Came
TEXT: Both Spanish and American militaries defended the deep water harbor just east of here with artillery mounted on this strategic bluff overlooking the harbor and bay. Neither ever fired a shot in anger; perhaps because of these defenses?
The Spanish first installed artillery here in 1797 to deter invasion by English, Russian or other potential enemy ships. In 1863, as the Civil War raged back East and concerns of Confederate or British raids mounted, Major General Henry Halleck ordered this bluff refortified with heavy artillery. A dozen large guns were placed at Black Point batteries to augment guns at Fort Point, Angel Island, and Alcatraz Island.
What are the impacts of protecting the things we value?
DESCRIPTION OF IMAGE: A large black-and-white photo spans over the area below this text. Dated 1865, it features two cannons mounted and pointed out towards the bay over a parapet. The cannons are equipped with wheels, so that they can be rotated. Two soldiers stand on the parapet and look out towards the bay.
CAPTION: Six 10-inch caliber cannon, like the one you see mounted here today in the West Battery, were aimed at the Golden Gate. They could shoot 128 pound cannonballs up to 2 miles. Six cannons in the East Battery were aimed north to overlap with fire from Alcatraz Island.
DESCRIPTION OF IMAGE: A smaller black-and-white photograph is positioned in the right-hand corner of this image. It is dated 1880 and displays five of the mounted cannons at Black Point framed on either side by low hills. A path leads up to them from behind.
CAPTION: The guns here fired salutes during special occasions, but never fired on an enemy vessel. San Francisco harbor was never raided during the Civil War or later, and eventually the cannons were removed. In the 1980s the battery was restored.
SIDEBAR: Protecting the Harbor.
MAP: An informational map of Golden Gate Straits, framed by San Francisco in the south, the Marin Headlands and Marin in the north, and Angel Island in the east. Arrows extending from bodies of land represent the range of artillery at various coastal defense sites. The ranges conglomerate in the center of the bay. From west to east, the coastal defense sites are: Fort Point at the tip of San Francisco, Angel Island, Black Point at Fort Mason, and Alcatraz Island.
CAPTION: If an enemy vessel had entered San Francisco Bay during the Civil War, it would have faced fire from four directions.
TEXT: When the Spanish-American War broke out in 1898, Black Point's Civil War batteries were in poor shape. Rather than repair their rotting wooden platforms, two concrete gun mounts were built beside the West Battery. Two Rodman cannon like the one you see here today were placed on the new platforms to protect against attack from Spanish ships.
DESCRIPTION OF IMAGE: A black-and-white photo, dated 1902, features soldiers standing behind cannon as billows of white smoke protrude into the bay. Alcatraz Island can be seen in the distance.
CAPTION: Soldiers practice firing cannons.
DIRECTIONS TO NEXT WAYSIDE: There are two routes to the next wayside. One involves stairs, and the other does not.
STAIR ROUTE: To take the route with stairs, continue down the cement path for 67 feet. Turn left and walk up the set of stairs. Turn left and walk 144 feet, or until you meet a set of descending stairs. The path branches a bit here. They will all lead to the same place, but the most direct route is to stay straight on the path you are currently on. Walk down the stairs. Turn right and walk 113 feet. Turn right and walk 25 feet. The sidewalk ends here, and you will now walk along the road bordering the International Hostel for 343 feet. At the edge of the hostel, you can turn right and walk 138 feet, and then make a left turn and walk 135 feet. Make a slight left to continue on this large asphalt road and walk 414 feet downhill under the shade of eucalyptus trees. You have arrived at the next wayside.
NO STAIR ROUTE: Walk back the 63 feet to the Manifest Destiny wayside. Take a slight right at the fork and walk 213 feet. Turn right and walk 25 feet. The sidewalk ends here, and you will now walk along the road bordering the International Hostel for 343 feet. At the edge of the hostel, you can turn right and walk 138 feet, and then make a left turn and walk 135 feet. Make a slight left to continue on this large asphalt road and walk 414 feet downhill under the shade of eucalyptus trees. You have arrived at the next wayside.