The Voices of Fort Point

Fort Point
Fort Point and The Golden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate NRA, Park Archives, GOGA 35301







Fort Point was built before the American Civil war and was used by the military until it became a National Historic site in 1970. Finally it became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Unlike the tours we all know, here you can listen to stories told from people who have lived, and used the fort over the years.

For more information and history of Fort Point
 
Fort Point and Golden Gate 1908
Fort Point c1908

Golden Gate NRA, Park Archives, GOGA 18974



"Well, they had a big ceremony there and people came from all over San Francisco. Fort was covered with people watching the ship go out." - Meriam Nagel

 
 
Open house at Fort Point, 1967
Fort Point Parade Ground

Golden Gate NRA, Park Archives, GOGA 35339



"Yes. It was completely ours." - Louise . "That was our playground. We had mats in here where we did exercises and acrobats. And we skated in there." - Josephine. "And played baseball " –Josephine and Louise ...... Discussing how much of the fort they could get to.

 
 
Fort Point Light House c1968
Fort Point and Lighthouse

Golden Gate NRA, Park Archives, GOGA 35339



"Yes, we did. And sometimes it was quite dirty and I didn’t like it in there. And my sister and the McKay kids went up into the lighthouse. I’m afraid of heights and I’m sorry now I didn’t. But they did. And we played baseball."- Madeline Chase ..... Discussing if " you ever go in the red brick fort?

 
 
FOPO En Barbette
Fort Point En Barbette

Golden Gate NRA, Park Archives



"They recommended Fort Point. So we -- one of my jobs was to clean it out. And there was some old, I guess, Civil War muzzle-loaders there that we took off from the top parapet. And then as you go in that sortie gate, to your right is a cast-iron stair going up. To the left is that spiral one." - Harrison Payne

 
 
Fort Point Lifesaving Station and PPIE 1915
Fort Point Life Saving Station c1915.

Golden Gate NRA, Park Archives, GOGA 36876




"I saw an ad for a vacancy on the lifeboat crew at Fort Point Life-Saving Station at the Presidio, in what is now the west end of the present Crissy Field. I applied and got the job on the crew."- Cornelius Sullivan

 
 
aerial view of Fort Point c1957
Fort Point under the Bridge

Golden Gate NRA, Park Archives, GOGA 35301




"We were underneath the Golden Gate Bridge, I guess it's called Fort Point. It was sort of a popular place for youths of that age." - Bart Archimedes

 
 
These oral histories may be used for any legitimate non-commercial public or press use with proper credit given to the National Park Service. If you have any questions or require additional information, please reach out to the Park Archives and Records Center’s reference archivist at 415-561-2807 or Contact Us.


For a Complete List of Oral Histories Available by Topic
 

Last updated: July 10, 2024

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