Fort Baker facts for kids
Fort Baker is a cool historic place in California. It's part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. This fort is right next to the city of Sausalito in Marin County. It's also connected to San Francisco by the famous Golden Gate Bridge.
For many years, Fort Baker was an Army base. It stayed an Army post until the mid-1990s. Then, the main office of the 91st Division moved away. Fort Baker is located across from Fort Point, right at the entrance to the San Francisco Bay.
Fort Baker used to be called the Lime Point Military Reservation. It got its new name in 1897.
The fort is named after Edward Dickinson Baker. He was a U.S. Senator from Oregon. Baker was active in California politics in the 1850s. Sadly, he died while leading Union troops during the Civil War. He and his wife are buried in the San Francisco National Cemetery.
Fort Baker was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It's part of a larger group of historic forts called Forts Baker, Barry, and Cronkhite.
Today, Fort Baker still has many of its original buildings and landscapes. The National Park Service (NPS) takes care of it now. It's a popular spot because of its amazing views of the San Francisco Bay.
Contents
History of Fort Baker
Military Use Over Time
The military story of Fort Baker began in 1850. President Millard Fillmore created the Lime Point Military Reservation. This was to build defenses and support facilities on the north side of the Golden Gate. It was across from Fort Point. The government didn't fully own the land until 1866.
Between 1872 and 1876, four special gun batteries were built. These were at Point Cavallo, on the ridge above Lime Point, and on Gravelly Beach. The only buildings were simple barracks for workers and storage.
In 1890, plans were made for more modern coastal artillery batteries. These were built from Point Cavallo to Point Bonita. Four batteries were finished by 1901. These included Batteries Spencer, Kirby, Duncan, and Orlando Wagner.
In 1897, a temporary tent camp was set up where the main part of the fort is today. That's when the area was officially renamed "Fort Baker." The building of permanent structures started in 1901.
Fort Baker During the World Wars
During World War II, by December 1942, Fort Baker had 159 buildings. Many of these were temporary. For example, a temporary hospital was built in 1941. It was taken down in 1981.
During World War I and World War II, Fort Baker became a main base. It was a training center for the new 91st Division (United States) of the Army. In World War I, this division fought in France. In World War II, they served in Italy. Soldiers from the western states were part of this division. They called themselves "The Wild West Division."
The Baker–Barry Tunnel was a half-mile long tunnel. It connected Fort Baker to Fort Barry. In June 1937, this tunnel was made wider, to 20 feet across.
Later Military Roles
In the 1960s and 1970s, old World War II hospital buildings were used by the Sixth U.S. Army Medical Laboratory. This lab did important medical tests and research. They even tested for rabies.
In the late 1980s, the fort became a training place for the Army Reserve. It was called the 91st Training Division. Their job was to train new soldiers if a major war happened. These soldiers would get basic training and advanced infantry training. Then, the 91st would become an active army division.
In 2000, the last Army groups left Fort Baker. The 91st Division (Training Support) moved its main office. It went to Parks Reserve Forces Training Area in Dublin, California.
Fort Baker Today
Current Activities and Organizations
Many of the old military buildings are still standing at Fort Baker. Today, several groups use the area. These include the Coast Guard Station Golden Gate, which is a lifeboat station. There's also the Travis Marina and the Presidio Yacht Club. The Bay Area Discovery Museum is also located here.
A group that studies sustainability and climate change, called The Institute at the Golden Gate, has its offices at Fort Baker (37°50′17″N 122°28′53″W / 37.8380°N 122.4814°W).
Cavallo Point Conference Center
In 2005, an agreement was made to build a retreat and conference center. Construction started in October 2006. Many historic buildings were updated. New buildings were also added. It opened in May 2008.
The center has a lot of space for events. It also has a restaurant called "Murray Circle." There's also a large spa. The resort has 142 rooms. It is run by Passport Resorts. The property is also working to get LEED certification. This means it uses green designs and reuses old buildings.
The resort at Cavallo Point is now open and welcomes guests.
Images for kids
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A view of fictional Starfleet Command buildings in Fort Baker from the TV show Star Trek: Enterprise.
