Another military conversion.

Just up from Fort Point on Marina Boulevard is Fort Mason. It’s actually in two parts – the lower half at sea level originally focused on storage of provisions and materiel, the upper dedicated to housing and the obligatory Christian church you attended before and after slaying people. The lower half has been skillfully converted to commercial use, including shops, restaurants and performing arts centers. The upper half affords a descending staircase behind the hostel which will take you down to the municipal pier, affording splendid views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, as well as of the ships moored in the National Maritime Museum at Fisherman’s Wharf.

By all accounts these venues are zooed at weekends, but go there on a weekday and they are almost deserted, much favoring this photographer’s view of the world.

A lone gull hangs out below a wind-art mobile.

Almost deserted.

Truly a fortress.

The Eagle stands for America, the sword for militarism, the key for storage of provisions,
the wheel for transportation and its thirteen spokes/stars for the original states.

Alcatraz from the Firehouse.

One of the many artwork ‘benches’, none of which you
would want to sit on but all great fun to see.

Splendid views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

A typical store conversion in the lower Fort.

Bicycle paths galore, in view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

For a leisurely day of historical discovery and great photography, a visit to Fort Mason is recommended.

All snapped on the Nikon D3x using mostly the 105mm f/2.5 Nikkor-P pre-Ai about which it is hard to say anything bad, as well as with the 20mm f/3.5 Ai-S and 50mm f/1.4 pre-Ai Nikkors.