Visit Battery Mendell (Fort Barry), Marin Headlands, California

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The engineers began construction of Battery Mendell at the edge of a cliff overlooking the Pacific in July, 1901. Battery Mendell was named in honor of Col. George Mendell, Corps of Engineers, who was the driving force behind all of San Francisco’s early Endicott coastal defenses. Endicott-era batteries were characterized by concrete construction, partially buried behind thick parapets of earth. The cannon were fewer in number, but very powerful, mounted in pairs or occasionally individually, and were more widely separated than in previous designs. Magazines (ammunition rooms) became an integral part of the batteries, placed below the level of the surrounding terrain and enclosed battery commander stations were built into the structure. These Endicott-period batteries did not provide any covering or overhead protection for the guns because aerial attack wasn’t yet considered a threat. The purpose of Battery Mendell was to fire 1,100 pound artillery shells at enemy ships up to eight miles away. Much of the gun’s value came from its ability to protect itself. Battery Mendell was outfitted with the army’s modern innovation: a pair of 12-inch guns on “disappearing carriages.” When the guns were ready to fire, they would rise into position, fire a single shot and then recoil down and out of sight for reloading; ing guns and the soldiers were hidden from enemy view behind a huge concrete parapet camouflaged into the surroundings.

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