RON HENGGELER |
November 15, 2011
The Marin Headlands
The Marin Headlands is the site of a number of historic military settlements fortifications, including Fort Cronkhite, Fort Barry, a large number of bunkers and batteries, and the SF-88 Nike Missile silo. From the 1890s, the first military installations were built to prevent hostile ships from entering San Francisco Bay. The batteries at Kirby Cove, above Black Sands Beach, south of Rodeo Beach, and at Battery Mendell are examples of fortifications from the pre-World War I period. During World War II Batteries Wallace, Townsley, and 129 on Hawk Hill were built into the hills to protect them from aerial bombardment and the high caliber shells that would be fired by Axis battleships. The emplacements at the top of Hawk Hill were used for a radio station. During the Cold War, the gun batteries were decommissioned, but antiaircraft missile sites were built on the northern and southern sides of Rodeo Lagoon. Radar sites were placed atop Hawk Hill and Hill 88. At several locations, shelters were built into the hillsides to protect the military personnel from the use of nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons.
Observation posts known as base end stations can also be found in the Headlands. A well-preserved example can be seen near the northern end of Rodeo Beach, and others are located near the Point Bonita Lighthouse and on Wolf Ridge as it slopes down to the sea.
All military sites in the Headlands are now decommissioned and returned to civilian use. Some military facilities, such as SF-88, have been preserved as historical sites. Many historical buildings are now used by non-profit organizations, but maintained in their historical condition.
Other historic landmarks in the Headlands include Point Bonita Lighthouse.
San Francisco as seen from Hawk Hill in the Marin Headlands |
San Francisco as seen with a 300mm lens from Hawk Hill in the Marin Headlands |
The north tower of the Golden Gate Bridge as seen from the Conzelman Road in the Marin Headlands |
Point Bonita as seen from the Conzelman Road in the Marin Headlands |
Deer in the Marin Headlands |
Ruins of a World War 11 Battery Mendell in the Marin Headlands |
Ruins of a World War 11 Battery Mendell in the Marin Headlands |
The distant Bird Rock in the Marin Headlands seen from atop the coastal ridgline near Point Bonita |
Ruins of a World War 11 bunker in the Marin Headlands situated on top the coastal ridgline above Point Bonita |
A viiew from on top of the coastal ridgline above Point Bonita |
The distant Bird Rock in the Marin Headlands seen from atop the coastal ridgline near Point Bonita |
A view of the northern Marin Headlands seen from inside the ruins of a World War 11 bunker situated on top the coastal ridgline above Point Bonita |
The distant Golden Gate Bridge seen from ruins of a World War 11 bunker in the Marin Headlands, situated on top the coastal ridgline above Point Bonita |
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