Battery Burnham
Battery Burnham (1900-1909) - Battery Burnham was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 8 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Mason (2), San Francisco County, California. The battery was named in G.O. 21, 28 Feb 11902, after 1st Lt. Howard M. Burnham, 5th U.S. Artillery, who was killed in the battle of Chickamauga, Georgia,on 19 Sep 1863, during the U.S. Civil War. Battery construction started in 1899, was completed in 1900 and transferred to the Coastal Artillery for use 21 Aug 1900. at a cost of $ 32,137.62. Deactivated in 1909.
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Endicott Period (1890-1910)
Part of the Harbor Defense of San Francisco.
Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with one 8" M1888 gun mounted on an M1896 Disappearing carriage. This was a two story battery with the gun located on the upper level and the magazine below. Shells were moved from the magazine level to the gun loading platform by a hand operated Hodges back delivery shell hoist. No powder hoists were provided. Electrical power was furnished by the emplacement power plant.
Both the gun and the carriage were removed to Battery Ord, Fort Columbia in 1909.
| Empl No |
Caliber Type |
Barrel Length |
Model | Serial No |
Manufacturer | Carriage | Service Dates |
Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8" Rifle | 278.5" | M1888 | 4 | Watervliet | Disappearing, M1896, #32, Lake Erie | 1900-1909 | See note 1 | |
| Source: RCW Form 1, 1 Mar 1920, RCB, 31 Dec 1903. CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 110-111 Note 1: Carriage transferred to Battery Ord, Fort Columbia October 1909. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA | |||||||||
Current Status
Part of the Golden Gate Recreation Area (GGNRA) administered by the National Park Service. Battery repurposed, no period guns or mounts in place.
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Location: Fort Mason, San Francisco County, California Maps & Images Lat: 37.8074445 Long: -122.4280277 |
Sources:
- Kent, Matthew W., Harbor Defenses of San Francisco - A Field Guide 1890 to 1950, Copyright 2009, Blurb, ISBN 978-1-61584-163-9, page 10
Links:
Visited: 22 Aug 2009
Battery Burnham Picture Gallery
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