Imagine standing here decades ago. The ground trembles as massive guns fire from Battery Smith-Guthrie. This battery once played a vital role in San Francisco’s defense. Battery Smith-Guthrie is a testament to early 20th-century coastal defense strategies.
Originally, it was just Battery Guthrie. Construction began in 1903. It finished in 1904. The cost was about $69,193.64. Battery Guthrie was named after Captain Edwin Guthrie. He died in the Mexican-American War.
In 1922, half of Battery Guthrie became Battery Smith. This honored Colonel Hamilton Allen Smith. He died in action in France during World War I. So, we now know it as Battery Smith-Guthrie.
Battery Smith-Guthrie formed part of the Harbor Defense of San Francisco. Its main job was to protect the minefields at the Golden Gate entrance. The battery initially held four 6-inch rapid-fire guns. These M1900 guns sat on M1900 Barbette carriages.
Each pair of guns had a magazine structure between them. This included shell rooms and powder rooms. Each shell room was 12 feet by 38 feet. It could hold 450 shells. The powder rooms were slightly smaller. They held 175 powder cartridges.
Besides shell and powder rooms, the magazines housed other rooms. These included a plotting room, a guard room, and storerooms. Battery Smith’s magazine even had a power plant. A separate structure connected the two batteries. It contained a guard room and a larger plotting room. Earth covered all three structures for added protection. This helped to keep Battery Smith-Guthrie safe.
During World War I, some guns from Battery Smith-Guthrie were sent abroad. Guns #5 and #12 went to Morgan Engineering Company for modifications. However, they eventually returned to Fort Barry. They were remounted in their original carriages.
Interestingly, gun #5 had issues. A replacement gun, #48, came from Watertown in 1936. The original gun #5 went to Watervliet Arsenal. It never returned to Battery Smith-Guthrie.
Battery Smith-Guthrie deactivated in 1948. Now, Battery Smith-Guthrie is part of the Golden Gate Recreation Area. The National Park Service manages it. Today, no guns or mounts remain in place.
As you explore Battery Smith-Guthrie, imagine the activity. Picture the soldiers preparing the guns. Feel the echoes of history. Think about the important role it played in defending San Francisco. The Batteries Loop Trail offers access. You can explore Battery Smith-Guthrie, Battery O’Rorke, and Battery Alexander. Along the Batteries Loop Trail, you can enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean and Rodeo Beach. On a clear day, you might even spot the Farallon Islands.