Fort Baker
Encyclopedia
Fort Baker is one of the components of California
's Golden Gate National Recreation Area
. The Fort, which borders the City of Sausalito in Marin County and is connected to San Francisco by the Golden Gate Bridge
, served as an Army
post until the mid-1990s, when the headquarters of the 91st Division moved to Parks Reserve Forces Training Area
. It is located opposite Fort Point at the entrance to the San Francisco Bay
.
Fort Baker was classified as an historic district on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1973. It features essentially intact historic structures and landscapes, and is currently under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service
(NPS). It is renowned for its spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay
.
Its reuse is in full swing, and the rapid deterioration of the buildings has been stopped with the retrofit, renovation and reopening of all the original buildings as Cavallo Point Lodge http://www.cavallopoint.com. The property is undergoing LEED
accreditation for its eco practices in reuse and green build, hopefully securing a Gold rating. It exists as a think tank conference center, with an Institute at the Golden Gate http://www.parksconservancy.org/our_work/igg/, working towards partnerships with environmentally minded and altruistic groups, rededicating Fort Baker as an eco-venue for the GGNRA, Conservancy, and Bay Area at large.http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/01/10/BAGPQNG2MG1.DTL
created The Lime Point Military Reservation, for coastal defense
positions and logistic support facilities, on the north side of the Golden Gate
, across from Fort Point. However, due to lengthy litigation the land was not acquired by the Federal Government until 1866. Between 1872 and 1876, four barbette
batteries were built: at Point Cavallo (Battery Cavallo), on the ridge above Lime Point (Cliff and Ridge Batteries), and on Gravelly Beach to the west (Gravelly Beach Battery). The only buildings on the reservation were barracks-like quarters for construction crews, storehouses, and offices, to the west of Horseshoe Bay.
In 1890 plans were drawn up for modern "Endicott Type"
coastal artillery
batteries to be built from Point Cavallo to Point Bonita. Four batteries were completed by 1901: Batteries Spencer, Kirby, Duncan, and Orlando Wagner.
In 1897 a tent camp was established where the present Main Post is today, and the reservation was renamed "Fort Baker". Construction of permanent structures began in 1901.
By December 1942, during World War II, there were 159 structures at Fort Baker, many of them temporary. For example, a temporary frame hospital, built near the beach at the foot of the parade ground, was completed in October 1941 and demolished in 1981. During the 1960s and 1970s part of the frame hospital was used as the reference laboratory for Letterman Army Hospital, and included the rabies laboratory.
In 2000, the final uniformed elements of the US Army left the Presidio of San Francisco
and Fort Baker, a subpost of the Presidio. The 91st Division (Training Support), an Army Reserve
unit, moved its headquarters from Fort Baker to Parks Reserve Forces Training Area
, in Dublin, California.
station, the Travis Marina (an Air Force rest and recreation facility), and the Bay Area Discovery Museum.
, Ft. Baker and Cavallo Point allow an exquisite panoramic view. Here, from the bench installed by the Mano Seca Group, a 180-degree clear view of the Golden Gate demands a long, comfortable perusal of both the scenery and aquatic activities.
In January 2005, an agreement was reached by the city of Sausalito and the National Park Service with developers for a retreat and conference center. Construction began in October 2006. Thirteen historic lodging buildings and seven historic commons buildings are being renovated; thirteen new lodging buildings are being built, as well. It is due to open in May 2008. It will have 15000 square feet (1,393.5 m²) of indoor space and 10000 square feet (929 m²) of outdoor event space, for events of 10 to 250 guests, a restaurant seating 100 people ("Murray Circle"), and an 11000 square feet (1,021.9 m²) full-service spa. The 142-room resort will be run by Passport Resorts, which also runs the Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur.
universe.
This is also used as the Final Pitstop (Finish Line) of The Amazing Race 2
.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is a U.S. National Recreation Area administered by the National Park Service that surrounds the San Francisco Bay area. It is one of the most visited units of the National Park system in the United States, with over 13 million visitors a year...
. The Fort, which borders the City of Sausalito in Marin County and is connected to San Francisco by the Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to...
, served as an Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
post until the mid-1990s, when the headquarters of the 91st Division moved to Parks Reserve Forces Training Area
Parks Reserve Forces Training Area
Parks Reserve Forces Training Area is a United States Army facility located in Dublin, California that is currently a semi-active mobilization and training center for Army Reserve Component personnel to be used in case of war or natural disaster....
. It is located opposite Fort Point at the entrance to the San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
.
Fort Baker was classified as an historic district on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1973. It features essentially intact historic structures and landscapes, and is currently under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
(NPS). It is renowned for its spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
.
Its reuse is in full swing, and the rapid deterioration of the buildings has been stopped with the retrofit, renovation and reopening of all the original buildings as Cavallo Point Lodge http://www.cavallopoint.com. The property is undergoing LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
accreditation for its eco practices in reuse and green build, hopefully securing a Gold rating. It exists as a think tank conference center, with an Institute at the Golden Gate http://www.parksconservancy.org/our_work/igg/, working towards partnerships with environmentally minded and altruistic groups, rededicating Fort Baker as an eco-venue for the GGNRA, Conservancy, and Bay Area at large.http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/01/10/BAGPQNG2MG1.DTL
Military history
The military history of the area that is now Fort Baker began in 1850 when President Millard FillmoreMillard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore was the 13th President of the United States and the last member of the Whig Party to hold the office of president...
created The Lime Point Military Reservation, for coastal defense
Coastal defence and fortification
Coastal defence , Coastal defense and Coastal fortification are measures taken to provide protection against attack by military and naval forces at or near the shoreline...
positions and logistic support facilities, on the north side of the Golden Gate
Golden Gate
The Golden Gate is the North American strait connecting San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. Since 1937 it has been spanned by the Golden Gate Bridge...
, across from Fort Point. However, due to lengthy litigation the land was not acquired by the Federal Government until 1866. Between 1872 and 1876, four barbette
Barbette
A barbette is a protective circular armour feature around a cannon or heavy artillery gun. The name comes from the French phrase en barbette referring to the practice of firing a field gun over a parapet rather than through an opening . The former gives better angles of fire but less protection...
batteries were built: at Point Cavallo (Battery Cavallo), on the ridge above Lime Point (Cliff and Ridge Batteries), and on Gravelly Beach to the west (Gravelly Beach Battery). The only buildings on the reservation were barracks-like quarters for construction crews, storehouses, and offices, to the west of Horseshoe Bay.
In 1890 plans were drawn up for modern "Endicott Type"
Endicott Board
Several boards have been appointed by US presidents or Congress to evaluate the US defensive fortifications, primarily coastal defenses near strategically important harbors on the US shores, its territories, and its protectorates.-Endicott Board:...
coastal artillery
Coastal artillery
Coastal artillery is the branch of armed forces concerned with operating anti-ship artillery or fixed gun batteries in coastal fortifications....
batteries to be built from Point Cavallo to Point Bonita. Four batteries were completed by 1901: Batteries Spencer, Kirby, Duncan, and Orlando Wagner.
In 1897 a tent camp was established where the present Main Post is today, and the reservation was renamed "Fort Baker". Construction of permanent structures began in 1901.
By December 1942, during World War II, there were 159 structures at Fort Baker, many of them temporary. For example, a temporary frame hospital, built near the beach at the foot of the parade ground, was completed in October 1941 and demolished in 1981. During the 1960s and 1970s part of the frame hospital was used as the reference laboratory for Letterman Army Hospital, and included the rabies laboratory.
In 2000, the final uniformed elements of the US Army left the Presidio of San Francisco
Presidio of San Francisco
The Presidio of San Francisco is a park on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in San Francisco, California, within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area...
and Fort Baker, a subpost of the Presidio. The 91st Division (Training Support), an Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
unit, moved its headquarters from Fort Baker to Parks Reserve Forces Training Area
Parks Reserve Forces Training Area
Parks Reserve Forces Training Area is a United States Army facility located in Dublin, California that is currently a semi-active mobilization and training center for Army Reserve Component personnel to be used in case of war or natural disaster....
, in Dublin, California.
Current activities
Many of the Army-built buildings still stand, and current institutions in the area include an active United States Coast GuardUnited States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
station, the Travis Marina (an Air Force rest and recreation facility), and the Bay Area Discovery Museum.
Scenic beauty
While not a very busy site for tourists and photographs as compared to the Marin HeadlandsMarin Headlands
The Marin Headlands is a hilly area at the southernmost end of Marin County, California, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The Headlands are located just north of San Francisco, immediately across the Golden Gate Bridge. The entire area is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area...
, Ft. Baker and Cavallo Point allow an exquisite panoramic view. Here, from the bench installed by the Mano Seca Group, a 180-degree clear view of the Golden Gate demands a long, comfortable perusal of both the scenery and aquatic activities.
Cavallo Point conference center
Fort Baker in popular culture
The site is also notable for being the site of some of the buildings of Starfleet Headquarters in the Star TrekStar Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
universe.
This is also used as the Final Pitstop (Finish Line) of The Amazing Race 2
The Amazing Race 2
The Amazing Race 2 is the second installment of the reality television show The Amazing Race. The Amazing Race 2 featured 11 teams of two with a pre-existing relationship in a race around the world...
.
Publications and Maps
- Fort Baker Official Brochure
- Fort Baker Parade Ground Walk: Innovations in Army Life self-guided tour
- Marin Headlands/Fort Baker Map
Further reading
- Ft. Baker - Greening Case Study
- Final Environmental Impact Statement and Fort Baker Plan, EPAUnited States Environmental Protection AgencyThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
's Federal Register Environmental Documents, June 22, 2000.