Fort Funston: Difference between revisions
John Stanton (talk | contribs) |
John Stanton (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{SocialNetworks}} | {{SocialNetworks}} | ||
'''{{PAGENAME}}''' (1917-1975) - Established in Dec 1900 and initially named Lake Merced Military Reservation. Construction as a coastal fort did not begin until Feb 1917. The post was renamed Fort Funston for Maj. Gen. [[Frederick Funston]], a Medal of Honor recipient, a legendary figure in the Philippine insurrection and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. | '''{{PAGENAME}}''' (1917-1975) - Established in Dec 1900 and initially named Lake Merced Military Reservation in San Francisco County, California. Construction as a coastal fort did not begin until Feb 1917. The post was renamed Fort Funston for Maj. Gen. [[Frederick Funston]], a Medal of Honor recipient, a legendary figure in the Philippine insurrection and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. | ||
{{Clr}} | {{Clr}} | ||
[[Image:Fort Funston Sign.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Fort Funston Sign]] | [[Image:Fort Funston Sign.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Fort Funston Sign]] | ||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
[[Image:FortFunston Plan.jpg|left|thumb|795px|Fort Funston Plan 1920]] | [[Image:FortFunston Plan.jpg|left|thumb|795px|Fort Funston Plan 1920]] | ||
{{Clr}} | {{Clr}} | ||
==[[World War I]]== | ==[[World War I]] (1917-1918) == | ||
The original 45 acre land purchase for Lake Merced Military Reservation in 1900 was made with the intent of building two [[Endicott Period]] mortar batteries on the land. The construction never took place and it was not until 1917, during [[World War I]], that construction of the mortar [[Battery Howe]] and the 5" rapid fire [[Battery Bruff]] began. Both of these batteries were armed from existing batteries on [[Fort Winfield Scott]]. The Lake Merced Military Reservation was expanded to the south in 1917 with an additional 150 acres and wooden frame buildings were built to support the cadre. | The original 45 acre land purchase for Lake Merced Military Reservation in 1900 was made with the intent of building two [[Endicott Period]] mortar batteries on the land. The construction never took place and it was not until 1917, during [[World War I]], that construction of the mortar [[Battery Howe]] and the 5" rapid fire [[Battery Bruff]] began. Both of these batteries were armed from existing batteries on [[Fort Winfield Scott]]. The Lake Merced Military Reservation was expanded to the south in 1917 with an additional 150 acres and wooden frame buildings were built to support the cadre. | ||
==Post [[World War I]]== | ==Post [[World War I]]== | ||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
{{FtFunstonPostWorldWarI}} | {{FtFunstonPostWorldWarI}} | ||
==[[World War II]]== | ==[[World War II]] (1941-1945) == | ||
During [[World War II]] several mobile gun installations were placed around the fixed batteries as Anti-Aircraft protection. | During [[World War II]] several mobile gun installations were placed around the fixed batteries as Anti-Aircraft protection. | ||
{{FtFunstonWorldWarII}} | {{FtFunstonWorldWarII}} | ||
| Line 41: | Line 41: | ||
</googlemap> | </googlemap> | ||
|valign="top"| | |valign="top"| | ||
'''Location:''' Lake Merced | '''Location:''' Lake Merced, San Francisco County, California | ||
{{Mapit-US-cityscale|37.71859|-122.500906}} | {{Mapit-US-cityscale|37.71859|-122.500906}} | ||
| Line 48: | Line 48: | ||
'''Sources:''' | '''Sources:''' | ||
* {{Roberts}}, page 68 | * {{Roberts}}, page 68 | ||
* {{HBSuppSanFranciscoWWII}} | |||
'''Links: ''' | '''Links: ''' | ||
* [http://www.cdsg.org/cdsgrep/funston.htm Coastal Defense Study Group] | * [http://www.cdsg.org/cdsgrep/funston.htm Coastal Defense Study Group] | ||
* [http://www.militarymuseum.org/Funston.html Maj. Gen. Frederick Funston] | * [http://www.militarymuseum.org/Funston.html Maj. Gen. Frederick Funston] | ||
* {{CDSGMainLink}} | |||
{{Visited|24 Aug 2009}} | {{Visited|24 Aug 2009}} | ||
| Line 71: | Line 72: | ||
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]] | [[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]] | ||
[[Category:Preserved]] | [[Category:Preserved]] | ||
[[Category:National | [[Category:California San Francisco County]] | ||
[[Category:National Historic Site]] | |||
[[Category:2009 Northern California Trip]] | [[Category:2009 Northern California Trip]] | ||
Revision as of 12:58, 15 April 2011
Fort Funston (1917-1975) - Established in Dec 1900 and initially named Lake Merced Military Reservation in San Francisco County, California. Construction as a coastal fort did not begin until Feb 1917. The post was renamed Fort Funston for Maj. Gen. Frederick Funston, a Medal of Honor recipient, a legendary figure in the Philippine insurrection and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
Fort Funston History
Part of the Harbor Defense of San Francisco.
World War I (1917-1918)
The original 45 acre land purchase for Lake Merced Military Reservation in 1900 was made with the intent of building two Endicott Period mortar batteries on the land. The construction never took place and it was not until 1917, during World War I, that construction of the mortar Battery Howe and the 5" rapid fire Battery Bruff began. Both of these batteries were armed from existing batteries on Fort Winfield Scott. The Lake Merced Military Reservation was expanded to the south in 1917 with an additional 150 acres and wooden frame buildings were built to support the cadre.
Post World War I
In 1920 Battery Bruff was disarmed as a part of the 1920 disarmament program. In 1925 an Anti-Aircraft battery was added and in 1935 the massive Battery Davis (2) was begun with two casemated 16" Naval guns. In 1937 Battery Bluff was begun with mounts for four 155mm rapid fire guns in Panama Mounts.
| Battery Click on Battery links below |
No. | Caliber | Type Mount | Service Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Davis (2) | 2 | 16" | LR Barbette Carriage in Casemate | 1936-1940-1940-1948 | Navy Guns |
| Battery Howe (2) | 4 | 12" | Mortar | 1917-1918-1919-1945 | Mortars from Battery McKinnon Fort Winfield Scott (2) |
| Battery Bruff | 2 | 5" | Pedestal | 1917-1918-1919-1920 | Guns from Battery Sherwood Fort Winfield Scott (2) |
| Source: CDSG | |||||
World War II (1941-1945)
During World War II several mobile gun installations were placed around the fixed batteries as Anti-Aircraft protection.
| Battery Click on Battery links below |
No. | Caliber | Type Mount | Service Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Bluff | 4 | 155mm GPF | Panama Mounts | 1941-1942-1943-1945 | Mobile guns |
| Battery AA5 | 3 | 3" | Pedestal AA | 1920-19??-19??-1945 | Fixed mounts |
| Source: CDSG | |||||
Cold War
During the Cold War the post housed several components of the SF-59L and SF-61 Nike Missile system. The SF-59L site now serves as the park parking lot.
Current Status
The original cantonment area was transferred to the City and County of San Francisco, a portion was retained by the Department of the Army and permitted to the California National Guard for the housing of an Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion. In 1975 the City of San Francisco signed over their portion of the property to the National Park Service with provisions that they would keep it as an "open space necessary to urban environment and planning" and the area became a part of the regional Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
|
{"selectable":false,"width":"500"} |
Location: Lake Merced, San Francisco County, California Maps & Images Lat: 37.71859 Long: -122.500906 |
Sources:
- Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 68
- U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project Harbor Defenses of San Francisco, (CCA-P-SFB), 15 Nov 1945, CDSG
Links:
Visited: 24 Aug 2009
Fort Funston Picture Gallery
|
Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better! |