Historic Battery Howe Site

Stop on Fort Funston Historic & Scenic Tour, a free self-guided tour.

Battery Howe was one of Fort Funston's original World War I-era installations, constructed around 1917. The battery was armed with four 12-inch mortars and named in honor of Brigadier General Walter Howe, a veteran of the Indian Wars who died in 1915. These massive mortars were relocated from earlier positions at Fort Winfield Scott near the Presidio. While the battery structure itself has been demolished over the years, the site remains significant as part of the fort's evolution from a frontier-like military reservation to a fully developed coastal defense installation. The magazines here were later used by the California National Guard for ammunition storage during the 1950s when anti-aircraft artillery was positioned nearby. Understanding Battery Howe's role helps visitors appreciate the layers of military history at Fort Funston, from World War I coastal defense to Cold War air defense. Information panels mark the approximate location and provide historical context about the weapons and soldiers who served here during the early 20th century.