Forts Baker, Barry, and Cronkhite

This military complex spreads across hills and shoreline areas from the Golden Gate to the Pacific and consists of three separate forts with various defensive structures. The grounds hold gun emplacements, barracks, ammunition buildings, and other military structures from multiple decades.

The government acquired land starting in 1866 to protect San Francisco Bay against potential attacks. The forts were built and expanded over many decades to keep pace with new weapon technology and military strategy.

The structures here show how soldiers lived and worked across different eras, with buildings from various periods standing side by side. You can observe how military use and architecture adapted over the decades.

You can walk freely across the grounds to explore gun emplacements, tunnels, and old buildings, many with information signs. Wear good footwear since the terrain is hilly and paths can be uneven.

One of the batteries fired one of the country's largest coastal defense guns, demonstrating the impressive capabilities of shore fortification. The site preserves evidence of this military technology rarely seen together in one location.