Happy (belated) Anniversary, Golden Gate Bridge!

On Sunday, May 27, 2012 the Golden Gate Bridge celebrated its 75th anniversary.  Well, the Bridge didn't celebrate, but everyone else did!  I'm told that I "walked" across the bridge at the age of approximately two months old, and since in our family, everyone had a bridge that they associated themselves with, this one was mine.

Recently I was able to visit Fort Point, a Civil War era fort that is situated directly underneath the bridge.  When construction began in 1853, the fort's original purpose was to protect the bay against any naval attack, including any attack by the Confederacy.  Since it sits adjacent to the Presidio, it was later used as a barracks and detention center.

The fort was supposed to be torn down during the construction of the bridge during the thirties, but one of the designers recognized its architectural value and designed a special arch at the southern end of the bridge so that the fort would not be harmed.

The top level of the fort has 270-degree views of the Pacific Ocean, the San Francisco Bay, and the City.

It's kind of neat to see where the cannons once stood, as well as take a peek into the past where soldiers once lived, ate and slept.

You should go see it some time.