Hiding in the Marin Headlands is a little-known piece of history that makes for a fascinating adventure. During the era of World War II, an artillery bunker known as Battery Townsley guarded the Northern California coast. Although it never saw the action an invasion would’ve brought, the bunker itself remains to this very day. You can see it for yourself when you embark on this trek in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, so lace up those hiking boots, charge your camera, and be sure to check out this historic destination.
Located in the Marin Headlands is an amazing piece of wartime history known as Battery Townsley. Completed in 1940, the battery was home to artillery that was meant to protect the area from air and naval attack. An attack never came, but this historic battery remains.
Construction on Battery Townsley was officially completed in 1940. However, the army had put the gears into motion for this (at the time) high-tech piece of equipment as early as 1915. The battery was actually named after a World War I general officer by the name of Major General Clarence P. Townsley.
Those who lived in the Bay Area during this time were probably aware of the battery's existence. After all, you could hear the test shots from miles away. However, the location of Battery Townsley was top secret, despite the fact that you can easily visit it today!
Visiting the historic destination is fairly easy, but you must time it correctly. Battery Townsley is open to the public the first Sunday of the month from noon to 4:00 p.m., and visiting it requires a quarter-mile trek from the Fort Cronkhite parking lot.
The hike, although short, is strenuous. It's recommended you give yourself plenty of time to complete the trail. The sight of the historic bunker at the end of the trail is more than worth it, though. It looks very much like it must've looked back when it was first constructed, sans artillery of course.
During the days of World War II, the battery contained two 16-inch caliber guns, each of which was capable of shooting 2,100-pound projectiles 25-miles out to sea. Hundreds of soldiers lived within the battery during this time, ready to guard the coast at the first sign of attack.
An attack never came, and the battery's weaponry was considered obsolete by the end of World War II. Its guns were useless against long-range bombers and nuclear weapons. The bunker today preserves a piece of military history that not a lot of people really know about, so make it your mission to hike to it and see it for yourself sometime soon!
