Fort Point (1853-61) was designed to defend the entrance to San Francisco Bay, but it never got to use its artillery. It served as a barracks for the US Army, then offices for the Golden Gate Bridge engineers in the 1930s. Today the site charts the history of the fort through a small exhibition. The terrace offers a fantastic view over the famous bridge, which suddenly feels very close. Fort Point is also one of the most popular surf spots in the world.