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Fort Point, San Francisco

Lighthouse · Hidden Gem · Military Facility
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Visit Fort Point to discover a time capsule from both the West Coast's colonial past and the turmoil of the Civil War. Long a defender of the city from foreign attack, the earlier fortification was constructed by the Spanish in the 18th century, and then later rose to prominence as a safeguard against potential Confederate advances in the region. Walk around the site and admire the fortress' sturdy octagonal construction, which utilized masonry and thick walls to protect it against cannons and firearms. Follow the park's self-guided tour, or join one led by a park ranger, to learn more about the lives of the soldiers who once lived here, as well as the fort's role in military affairs and its eventual decline in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge. Make Fort Point part of your personalized San Francisco itinerary using our San Francisco trip planning website.
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Fort Point reviews

TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
1,078 reviews
Google
4.7
TripAdvisor
  • One of the best places in the area, offering a close up & splendid view of the Golden Gate Bridge. A good place to take your family. You could catch ships passing underneath, see the Alcatraz Island....  more
    One of the best places in the area, offering a close up & splendid view of the Golden Gate Bridge. A good place to take your family. You could catch ships passing underneath, see the Alcatraz Island....  more »
  • This is a truly unique experience! Bring cash to get quarters with. Teens on the trip will really enjoy this type of history. 
    This is a truly unique experience! Bring cash to get quarters with. Teens on the trip will really enjoy this type of history.  more »
  • Beautiful view of the bridge! Not a lot to do, but views are amazing. Limited parking too. Your car might get wet. Be careful! 
    Beautiful view of the bridge! Not a lot to do, but views are amazing. Limited parking too. Your car might get wet. Be careful!  more »
Google
  • This is a great place to see the Golden Gate Bridge! The view is great since you can see the bridge span the opening of the bay. Also the fort is fun to look around and the location makes sense as a point of defense. We went on a fairly windy and cool day so if that's the case when you're visiting, bring a coat or at least a wind breaker. Great national historic site and worth the visit.
  • We went on a Friday afternoon, the fort was open. There are breath taking views of the Golden Gate bridge. The fort itself is very well maintained and there are a lot of interesting displays to read. The only down side is that there is way too much emphasis on the Buffalo Soldiers in the fort. Good info on the lighthouse. The rangers were very friendly and helpful. There was no admission to enter the fort and parking was free. It was a little walk to the fort but not too bad. Note to all it's windy in the fort so dress for it. Even with the sun out it's cold as the wind comes off the Pacific Ocean. The best views were from the top of the fort so be sure to make your way up there. Overall a great place to spend an afternoon.
  • Free... Great experience. A photographers dream. The Historic Fort is pretty much as it was. Natural lighting on the lower levels...kinda cool to wander around inside. The views of the bay and Gold Gate Bridge from the Fort's roof level is well worth it. Parking is bad. Can get busy and fill up quickly. We parked far away and walked down to the fort. However if you are in to taking pictures...come here.
  • This is a very picturesque area which offers multiple scenic paths to explore. Fort Point is directly underneath the Golden Gate Bridge so you can get some unique views of it. The fort itself is civil war area and it’s free to walk in and explore. The park service has done great work creating exhibits, informational signs and impressive maintenance of the fort. You can access the top of the fort for some great views there as well. A short walk from the fort is Torpedo Wharf which offers great bridge views along with closer views of The San Francisco sky scape and Alcatraz Island. Another path from the fort affords views of the Presidio and Crissy Field. A lot of color along the trails with numerous varieties of wildflowers present.
  • This place amazing views. A beautiful sunset spot in SF! There is no hassle entering into the building. The topmost floor closes at 4:45pm and the sites is closed by 5pm sharp so it’s best we plan accordingly.

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