Fort Point National Historic Site
At the entrance to San Francisco Bay, directly beneath the span of the Golden Gate Bridge, stands the Fort Point National Historic Site, a place where engineering, military history, and geography come together.
Built between 1853 and 1861, Fort Point was designed to guard the entrance to the bay, a strategic location that had become increasingly important during the California Gold Rush. Constructed of brick and granite, the fort was on of the most advanced coastal defense structures of its time, with multiple tiers of cannon positions arranged to protect the harbor.
Although it was completed just as the Civil War began, the fort never saw battle. It still remaines an active military post for years, adapting as technology and needs changed.
When the Golden Gate Bridge was built in the 1930s, there was serious discussion about removing the fort. Instead, engineers choose to preserve it, redesigning the bridge so that it would arch above the structure rather than replace it.
Recognizing its historical significance, the site was designated a national historic site in 1970 by Congress and is now maintained by the National Park Service.
Read More From Nancy
Tonto National Monument
Tonto National Monument preserves dramatic cliff dwelling built by the Salado people in the late 1200s and early 1300s. The site is located in central Arizona, in the Sonoran Desert. The monument protects two primary cliff dwellings constructed within natural limestone alcoves high above the valley floor. The multi-room masonry homes were built on local stone and […]
Grand Canyon National Park
I wanted to be someplace special on my 65th birthday, and my thoughts naturally turned to Grand Canyon National Park. My December birthday comes with some challenges as many of the majestic national parks have limited access that time of year, but the Grand Canyon felt right. I can still remember the first time I stood […]
Muir Woods National Monument
I have heard that visiting Muir Woods today is a different experience than it was. Reservations are required and there are timed entries in order to manage the number of people visiting the park each day. The few times I visited Muir Woods National Monument there was more flexibility. My strategy was the same: arrive before […]
