The History of Fort Baker

Located in the Marin Headlands, Fort Baker is a scenic army post that played a key role in the defense of the San Francisco Bay for more than a century. In 1866, the US Army acquired the site for a base to fortify the north side of the Golden Gate. The 24 buildings around the 10-acre parade ground at Fort Baker took shape between 1901 and 1915, and the post remained active through World War II.

In 1973 Fort Baker was listed as a Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places. When the Golden Gate National Parks were established in 1972, Fort Baker was designated to be transferred to the National Park Service when no longer needed by the military. In 2002 Fort Baker transferred officially from post to park.

For more on the history of Fort Baker, please visit: www.nps.gov/goga/historyculture/fort-baker.htm.

About the Name Cavallo Point

The name "Cavallo" is part of San Francisco Bay's history. It dates from 1775 when a rocky point near the present-day Fort Baker was named "Punta de Caballo" by the commander of one of the first European vessels that sailed into the bay. Wild horses once lived here, and "caballo" is the Spanish word for "horse." Early California settlers started using "Cavallo," as the pronunciation of b and v in Spanish are very close, and the name gained currency.