Battery Chamberlin

Battery Chamberlin is a military fortification at Baker Beach in San Francisco featuring four concrete gun emplacements built into a clifftop overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The position commands the entrance to San Francisco Bay and housed multiple weapons systems designed to defend the harbor.

The fortification was constructed in 1904 to protect underwater minefields at the Golden Gate entrance. It was built as part of a broader defense strategy following the Spanish-American War to secure San Francisco Bay from potential threats.

The site honors an artillery officer whose service during the Civil War shaped military operations at the Presidio. Visitors walking through the underground spaces can sense the connection between this location and the broader defense history of the region.

Access to the underground cartridge room with military exhibits is available from the north end of Baker Beach parking area. The pathway leads to the gun emplacements set into the cliffside, offering clear views across the bay and ocean.

The site preserves the last operational six-inch disappearing gun mechanism on the entire West Coast of North America. This specialized weapon system is a rare surviving example of early 1900s military engineering that few other locations still maintain.

Location: San Francisco

GPS coordinates: 37.79401,-122.48269

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:47