Exploring the Fort Point National Historic Site in San Francisco

An industry professional for some 20 years, Darrach Bourke serves as a financial adviser for Emerson Equity in San Mateo, California. Outside of his office, Darrach Bourke enjoys surfing at Fort Point in San Francisco.

The beach adjoins the Fort Point National Historic Site besides the Golden Gate Bridge. A red brick fortification built in the 1850s to protect the city from sea attacks serves as the main attraction. During the Civil War, 126 cannons helped defend against an assault that never happened.

After withdrawing the troops and cannons, the fort had peaceful purposes until World War II. The area saw the implementation of more advanced mortars against a feared Japanese attack. Then, engineers constructed an arch that protected the fort against a scheduled demolition to make way for the bridge.

In 1970, it received historic status as a National Historic Site. It is familiar to Alfred Hitchcock fans as the place where Jimmy Stewart rescued Kim Novak after she jumped into the bay in the film Vertigo.