Saturday, February 4th, 2012
California State Archives, Research Room
OPEN Including the Root Cellar Family History Library located at 1020 "O" Street in Sacramento will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For general information, telephone (916) 653-7715, Reference Desk (916) 653-2246 or visit the California State Archives website.
February 15, 1861
American Troops Occupy Fort Point
Responding to the threat of sectional hostilities that would erupt in April with the start of the American Civil War, U.S. Army troops occupied the newly-completed brick fortification at the mouth of the Golden Gate on this date in 1861. It was feared that England, Russia or some other foreign power might attempt to take advantage of California's isolation and attack San Francisco from the sea. Long a military site, this location was first fortified by the Spanish in 1783-84 and called El Castillo de San Joaquin. Today the enormous structure, the only brick fort built West of the Mississippi, is open to the public by the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. |
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