California Forts of the Old West

California Forts of the Old West

Fort MacArthur - The post was created in 1888, when President Grover Cleveland designated an area overlooking San Pedro Bay as an unnamed military reservation intended to improve the defenses of the expanding Los Angeles harbor area. Additional land was purchased in 1897 and 1910, and Fort MacArthur was formally created on October 31, 1914, named for General Arthur MacArthur, Jr. During World War I, the fort was utilized as a training center and the first large gun batteries for harbor defense were installed in 1917. However, the test firings of these guns was extremely unpopular with area residents and by the end of World War II the large guns were already being removed.

Fort MacArthur about 1982, courtesy Library of Congress.

During the early years of the Cold War, the post became a key part of the west coast's antiaircraft defenses and the home of the 47th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigade. A Nike surface-to-air missile battery was activated at the fort in 1954, which remained in service until the early 1970s.

In 1975 Fort MacArthur became a sub-post of Fort Ord, and the Upper and Lower Reservations were soon transferred ownership of the fort's to the City of Los Angeles. The Upper Reservation is now the San Pedro's Angels Gate Park, which is home to the Fort MacArthur Military Museum. The museum, housed in the Battery Osgood-Farley, preserves and interprets the history of Fort MacArthur and maintains several historical structures which were part of the U.S. Army's role in the defense of the American continental coastline from invasion.

The Lower Reservation of Fort MacArthur was dredged and is now the city's Cabrillo Marina. The Middle Reservation was transferred to the Air Force in 1982 and is still being used as base housing for the Los Angeles Air Force Base.

Fort Mason - After serving as a military post for more than 100 years, Fort Mason is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation area today.

The fort, located on San Jose Point, in what is today the northern Marina District alongside San Francisco Bay, was first utilized for military purposes in 1797 when the Spanish built gun batteries here, calling it “Bateria San Jose.”

However, this was a short lived venture as by the time Mexico took over the area in 1822, the site was known Black Point due to the dark underbrush that had taken over the point.

In 1850, the land was taken over by the United States, but would not be developed for military use until 1863, when the Civil War prompted the government to build coastal defenses.

Though the point, by this time, included a number of well-built residences, the land officially belonged to the government and in 1863; many of the homes were commandeered and utilized by the army or razed.

Fort Mason, 1920.

The fort initially included a 10-gun battery, manned by a company of Infantry, and a number of temporary wartime structures. After the Civil War ended, the post became a quartermaster depot and 1882 was named Fort Mason, after Richard Barnes Mason, a former military governor of California.

After the 1906 earthquake, it served as a refugee camp for earthquake and fire victims. In 1912 a three piers and several warehouses were built along the water to warehouse army supplies and provide docking space for army transport ships and the post became a major supply and transportation center.

By 1915, a railroad tunnel had been built to connect with the railroad network and the Port of San Francisco. Through the years, the post built a number of permanent buildings including barracks, officers' quarters, stables, a laundry, bakery, guardhouse, and a hospital.

During World War II, Fort Mason's logistical transport hub moved 23 million tons of cargo and deployed a million troops. It's piers continued to be busy through the Korean War and the early 1960's; however; by 1865, the headquarters of the command were moved to the Oakland Army Terminal, and most of the fort's properties fell into disuse.

The site became part of the National Park Service in the 1970s, although a few buildings were retained for use by the Army. The post, located on Bay Street at Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, continues to display a number of buildings amongst parks and gardens. The old headquarters building and some of the officers’ quarters are still utilized by the Army, while other buildings have been rented to the public. The post’s old hospital, today serves as the National Park Service's Golden Gate National Recreation Area Headquarters building. A portion of the site, known as the Fort Mason Center, is devoted to nonprofit and cultural activities, which includes three museums, six theaters, and the City College of San Francisco's Art Campus.

The old Fort Mason Hospital serves as the Golden Gate National Recreation Area headquarters today, photo

courtesy California State Military Museum.

Contact Information:

Golden Gate National Parks
Building 201, Fort Mason
San Francisco, California 94123-0022
415-561-4700

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