Battery Marcus Miller

What stood before Battery Marcus Miller in 1891 was not concrete and steel, but the ghosts of cannons past. Ten platforms for 15-inch Rodman cannons were removed from Battery West to make way for this new guardian of San Francisco Bay. Battery Marcus Miller was to be the first of its kind. It marked the beginning of the Endicott-era Harbor Defense system. Construction paused as the government debated the type of “disappearing carriage” to implement. Finally, in 1897, Battery Marcus Miller awoke. Three 10-inch guns, each capable of hurling projectiles seven miles, were mounted. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War in 1898, Battery “E,” Third Artillery, took up position within the newly completed Battery Marcus Miller. For a time, the fortification was managed as an extension of Battery Cranston. It was sometimes even referred to as “Battery Cranston 2.” This confusion eventually subsided. In 1907, the three emplacements received their official designation: Battery Marcus Miller. This name honored Brigadier General Marcus Miller. He was a West Point graduate and a veteran of numerous conflicts. He served in the Civil War, the Modoc War, and the Nez Perce War. In 1898, he held the prestigious position of commanding officer of the Presidio of San Francisco. The guns of Battery Marcus Miller fell silent in 1920. They were removed, leaving behind a concrete shell. Today, Battery Marcus Miller stands watch near the Golden Gate Bridge toll plaza. It’s a stark reminder of a time when the defense of San Francisco Bay rested on the shoulders of these concrete and steel giants. You can visit Battery Marcus Miller via Lincoln Boulevard and Merchant Road, parking along the latter. The Coastal Trail even offers a close-up view. Although the interior magazines remain closed, the exterior whispers stories of the past.