Fort Point National Historic Site

The brick seacoast fortification of Fort Point is located on the southern side of the Golden Gate near the San Francisco Bay entrance. It's also the name of the rocky outcropping on which the fort and the southern entrance to the Golden Gate Bridge were built. The United States Army constructed the fort immediately before the American Civil War to defend San Francisco Bay against hostile vessels. The fort is presently protected as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area as Fort Point National Historic Site, a United States National Historic Site maintained by the National Park Service. It is one of the most beautiful historical sites in the United States and is currently well-known as a tourist attraction due to its proximity to the Golden Gate Bridge.

The American Institute of Architects suggested in 1926 that the fort be preserved because of its remarkable military architecture. Due to a lack of funds, the concepts sat dormant. The fort was originally planned to be demolished as part of the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in the 1930s, but Chief Engineer Joseph Strauss rebuilt the bridge to save the fort. "While the old fort no longer serves a military purpose," Strauss stated, "it remains a wonderful example of mason's skill... It should be conserved and repaired as a national monument." The fort is located precisely beneath an arch that supports the highway on the bridge's southern approach. Following WWII, preservation efforts were resurrected. President Richard Nixon signed a measure designating Fort Point National Historic Site on October 16, 1970.