Past FOCWA Activities at Fort Point

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Past FOCWA Activities at Fort Point and Other Locations

April 2023 Living History Day at Fort Point photos

February 2023 Fort Point photos

August 2022 LH Day at Fort Point:

Member Constance Smith demonstrates 1860s cooking methods; Visiting Naval Sea Cadets fold the garrison flag;

Visitors view equipment of a Civil War soldier; Member Steve Johnson gives a tour of the fort.

January 27, 2018: Civil War Day at Fort Point

Photo by John Gee

Raising the 1861 Garrison Flag at Fort Point Civil War Day 2014

At attention: re-enactors and members of FOCWA at the flag ceremony

Exhibit of medical tools and medicines used during the Civil War

Tour of Fort Point, Battery Cavallo & Alcatraz Island, 10/15/11	John Martini

Ranger Jayeson Vance & John Martini	Battery Cavallo

National Park Service Workshop

Retired National Park Service Ranger, author and historical consultant to FOCWA John Martini led a tour of Fort Point, Battery Cavallo and Alcatraz Island on Saturday October 15.

Tour was to teach volunteers the significance of these three installations in the defense of San Francisco. Rangers Emelda Zuschlag and Jayeson Vance led a group of 20 volunteers during the day long tour. Friends of Civil War Alcatraz members Brad Schall, Chuck Gardali and Steve Johnson were part of the group. Walter Page will be joining the FOCWA and is excited about being a member.

Activities for the day started at Fort Mason, then to Fort Point for a tour of the construction, life inside the fort, it�s fortification and the artillery at Fort Point, then to Battery Cavallo in Marin Country for a study of a one tier earthen fort, Alcatraz was our last stop with a study of the Sally Port, tunnels, magazines and the Citadel. Everyone enjoyed the workshop.

FOCWA wishes to thank John Martini, the National Park Service and the Rangers for putting on this tour.

Aug 13th, 2011 Fort Point National Historic Site presents
"Civil War Living History Day" in San Francisco.

Click here for photos of this event!
Click to view event flyer

National Park Service Ranger Maureen Rogers and San Mateo resident Mike Musante take part in �Civil War Living History Days� at Fort Point National Historic Site in San Francisco Jan. 31.

The event had the support of Friends of Civil War Alcatraz, which assists the National Park Service with educating the general public concerning the Civil War Experience on Alcatraz Island and in Northern California.

FOCWA may be reached at www.friendsofcivilwaralcatraz.org. Those interested in learning more about Civil War history are also welcome at the Peninsula Civil War Roundtable that meets on the third Tuesday of the month at Poplar Creek Grill, 1700 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo. A social half hour cash bar starts the program at 11:30 a.m. Lunch ($21.00) is served at noon. The featured program speaker begins after lunch. For information, visit PeninsulaCivilWarRoundTable.org.

-Susan Cohn and San Mateo Daily Journal

Volunteer Appreciation Day
Saturday December 1, 2007
Volunteer Appreciation Party at Fort Mason
historic Officers� club in San Francisco.

The picture above is (left to right), Bob Hubbs,
Ranger Lori Brosnan and Brad Schall.

Board members Bob Hubbs and Brad Schall attended the Volunteer Appreciation Party and enjoyed the luncheon put on by the National Park Service, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and the Presidio Trust. Lunch and dessert were served before a slide show presentation was made on the volunteers in the Golden Gate National Park system. Last year over 17,000 people volunteered in the Parks with a combined effort of about 400,000 hours. A nice gift of an insulated lunch bag was given to the volunteers for their service this past year.

Bob and Brad along with Fred Bohmfalk, John Nevins and Greg Tracy are part of the Friends of Civil War Alcatraz commitment to volunteering at Fortress Alcatraz. All encourage fellow Friends members to become a volunteer at Alcatraz and would be glad to put you in touch with Alcatraz volunteer coordinator Ranger Lori Brosnan. It takes time and commitment but it�s a lot of fun and a very worthwhile endeavor.

Fort Mason Historic Officers� Club is another example of our Civil War heritage in northern, California. The Officers� Club at Fort Mason is one of the most historic buildings in San Francisco. Originally built in 1855, the area was taken over by the Army in 1865. For years, what is now the Officers� Club was the home of the senior army officer on the Pacific Coast. A total of 44 generals, including several noted Civil War officers, lived there. A bronze plaque in the entrance area list many of the notable officers who used this building during their army careers. Presidents Rutherford Hayes and Ulysses Grant were entertained at the Officers� Club.

For many years the San Francisco Roundtable held their meeting at the Fort Mason Officers Club.