SITE NAME: China Beach. The site was formerly known as the China Beach Bivouac Area (Harbor Defenses of San Francisco).
LOCATION: China Beach is located in the city of San Francisco, California on the Pacific Ocean just west of The Presidio of San Francisco.
SITE HISTORY: China Beach Bivouac Area was established by the Army for use as a bivouac site for troops of the Harbor Defenses of San Francisco. By Permit No. W04-193-Eng-1222 dated 1 July 1943, the United States acquired 1.00 permit acres from the city of San Francisco for use as a bivouac area By Agreement No. W04-193-Eng-2627 dated 25 October 1943, the United States acquired 0.062 acres from the city of San Francisco for right of way. The total number of acres acquired was 1.062. There is no information regarding the improvements made at the site.
The agreement for the right of way was terminated on 19 November 1945. The permit for use of the area was terminated on 13 January 1946. There is no information regarding restoration of the site.
China Beach is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). The beach is one of the few swimming beaches in the city. A lifeguard station has been built on the site.