MSDC Field Trip to Fort Point in San Francisco

by Harold Tuchfeld, MSDC Member, and John Weidner, MSDC Treasurer

Fort Point, in San Francisco, is a brick fort built in the 1800s on the shore of the Golden Gate to defend the San Francisco harbor. It was completed in 1859, two years before the bombardment of Fort Sumpter proved that brick forts were obsolete. Fort Point never fired a shot in anger. The fort is essentially under the San Francisco (southern) end of the Golden Gate Bridge.

On September 12, John and Susie Weidner, who happened to be in San Francisco visiting their grandchildren, met with MSDC member and San Francisco resident Harold Tuchfeld at Fort Point to collect serpentine and talc.

Signage at the site indicated that the fort was going to be demolished to make room for bridge supports when the Golden Gate Bridge was being constructed. Fortunately, Chief Engineer Joseph Strauss recognized the architectural value of the Fort and created a special arch which allowed the construction of the bridge to occur safely over Fort Point. So in the end, wisdom prevailed. The fort, located at the end of Marine Drive in San Francisco, was made a national historic site in 1970.

The last half mile or so of Marine Drive is a roadcut showing cliffs of serpentinite and talc, nice pieces easily available for the taking.