On Saturday, we set out around 10:00 for Battery Chamberlin in the Presidio. Just above Baker Beach, this battery was completed in 1904 when it was armed with four 6-inch guns on "disappearing carriages." The guns recoiled and dropped down below the parapet so the crew could reload behind a concrete shield. The guns protected underwater minefields from enemy minesweepers. They had a range of 8 miles. These original guns were removed in 1917 for use in WWI. Through the years, other guns were installed and removed until WWII when soldiers manned the battery around the clock. They slept in the battery's magazine. A mess hall and more underground barracks were added. In 1948, all these batteries were deactivated and disarmed. The guns were scrapped. In light of the Cold War, these guns must have seemed quaint.
Today, there is one gun at the battery, which is demonstrated on the first full weekend of each month. Jack really liked this battery and of course wants to see a demonstration. Call 415-561-4323 to confirm. You can park right next to the battery, at the north end of the Baker Beach parking lot.
After walking all around the battery, speculating on what each building and window might have been, we climbed down to beautiful Baker Beach and ate our snack. What a spectacular place--Golden Gate Bridge to the right, Marin headlands directly across the channel, Sea Cliff to the left. The ocean roars in directly in front of you, each wave coming right at you. Plenty of people on the beach, but it does not seem crowded.
Jack wanted to see more batteries, so our next stop was the WWII Memorial to the over 400 military men who died in the waters off the US coast during WWII. Larry Halprin designed the surrounding landscape. We walked up the road looking for a battery shown on the map (Battery Saffold), but I think that one is behind a fence and overgrown with brush.
Back in the car, we drove to the batteries Alex found long ago. These are named Battery Godfrey, Battery Boutelle, Battery Marcus Miller, and Battery Cranston). Jack knows these well and led me to the one furtherest east where he wanted to climb down a rusty iron ladder. I decided I wasn't confident that I could get both of us down safely, disgusting Jack, who now thinks his grandmother is a wimp. Instead, we walked all the way around to get down to the lower levels. Jack will probably refer to these batteries as "Battery Dynamite," which is actually a little further south, but who could resist that name? We need to find a ranger who knows more about each of these batteries. They were mostly built between 1890 and 1904. Jack wants to visit all of them, including the ones on the Marin headlands.
Jack was now ready to go home to wait for his mother. Had a little lunch, read some more about Ms Frizzle, packed up, and greeted Stacy with delight.
I have found a great website with tons of information about Battery Chamberlin: http://www.militarymuseum.org/BtyChamberlin.html
