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Golden Gate Bridge at Fort Point

I had to watch for incoming surf and splash as I got low and close to the sea wall. No wonder the giant chain is rusty!

 

Fort Point has been called "the Gilbratar of the West Coast", and "one of the most perfect models of masonry in America." Construction began during the height of the California Gold Rush (1853) and was completed in 1861. Although its guns never fired a shot in anger, Fort Point has witnessed Civil War, obsolescence, earthquake, bridge construction, reuse for World War II, and preservation as a National Historic Site.

In the late 1930s, plans for the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge also involved plans for the demolition of Fort Point. Chief Engineer Joseph Strauss recognized the architectural value of the Fort and created a special arch which allowed the construction of the bridge to occur safely over Fort Point.

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Uploaded on August 15, 2016
Taken on July 4, 2011