Presidio Battery West

View of the Golden Gate Bridge from the Presidio Battery West

After advances in artillery technology during the Civil War, brick and mortar forts were replaced by earthwork batteries. The first of those in San Francisco was built in 1873 at Presidio Battery West and armed with twelve 15-inch Rodman cannons. Since then the batteries have been decommissioned.

View of the Pacific Ocean and the setting sun to the west

The winds are very high here all year round but on a clear day you can see the sun set to the west of the batteries and clearly see the Golden Gate Bridge to the east. Baker’s Beach and Marshall’s Beach can be seen below the batteries on the western side of the bridge.