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Fort Mason: Point San Jose Batteries
West Battery, Point San Jose, October 2000
 
As an emergency response to the Civil War, the United States Army built a twelve-gun, two battery fortification at the Point San Jose Military Reservation (also known locally as Black Point) in 1864. These two batteries, known as East and West Batteries, Point San Jose, served as a back up to fortifications at Fort Point and Alcatraz.
 
Mounted on wooden platforms behind brick and earth walls, 10-inch Rodman cannons could fire a 124 pound cannonball up to two and a half miles. The batteries were remodeled in 1898 for the Spanish-American War, but never saw battle in any of their years of use.
 
East Battery was partly demolished in 1911 when the San Francisco Fire Department pump station was built at the foot of the bluff below it. It is estimate about 60% remains buried in the backyard of Fort Mason's Quarters 4 while the West Battery was covered with earth and plantings and lay hidden for 70 years. In 1982 the, donated funds and community support enabled the National Park Service to undertake the excavation and restoration of the West Battery.
 

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