Battery West

Battery West (1864-1896+) - Battery West was a masonry and earthworks, U.S. Civil War 10 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Mason (2), San Francisco County, California. Battery construction started in 1863, was completed in May 1864. Deactivated in 1896+.

Battery West Gun Emplacements	Battery West from Above
Battery West, 10" Rodman Smoothbore Cannon on Display

U.S. Civil War (1861-1865)

Part of the Harbor Defense of San Francisco.

Originally built in 1864 as an U.S. Civil War coastal gun battery with six 10" smoothbore Rodman cannons mounted on Rodman Iron carriages. The West Battery was connected to a similar Battery East that contained six rifled guns. Both batteries were earthworks fortifications backed with masonry walls and using front pintle mounts on wood platforms. All of guns were mounted on iron carriages. The original threat was perceived to be Confederate raiders entering San Francisco Harbor.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)

In 1891 the six wooden gun platforms of Battery West were rebuilt and the six cannons are shown as mounted in the 1896 battery plan. By 1903, the cannons of Battery West are no longer listed.

Fort Mason 1896 Battery Plan, Battery West on left, Battery East on right

Current Status

Part of the Golden Gate Recreation Area (GGNRA) administered by the National Park Service. One period 10" Rodman smoothbore cannon and iron mount in place.

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Location: Fort Mason, San Francisco County, California Maps & Images Lat: 37.807834 Long: -122.428103 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: .....'

Sources:

• Hoke, Amy and Foulds, Eliot, Cultural Landscape Report for Fort Mason, National Park Service/Olmstead Center for Landscape Preservation, 2004.

Links:

• CDSG

Visited: 22 Aug 2009

Battery West Picture Gallery

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