Fort Barry

Fort Barry is a military installation in the Marin Headlands with multiple artillery batteries, including Battery Mendell equipped with two large breech-loading guns on disappearing gun carriages. The structures and fortifications spread across hilly terrain overlooking San Francisco Bay.

The installation was established in 1908 to protect the entrance to San Francisco Bay and served as part of the coastal defense system throughout the 20th century. It played a key role in guarding against threats from the ocean.

The place operated as a self-contained military community with residences for officers, barracks, a hospital, and service buildings that housed soldiers and their families. You can see how the base created its own world separate from civilian surroundings.

The Baker-Barry tunnel, built in 1918, connects the fort to nearby military facilities and allows safe passage without using the dangerous coastal road. You can explore the site on foot and many structures remain visible for inspection.

A balloon hangar built in 1921 still stands on the grounds and is one of the last surviving structures used for observation experiments with aircraft. This unusual building shows how early aviation technology played a role in coastal defense.