Our neighbor Park, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, has a new gun for Battery Townsley at Fort Cronkhite. This exact gun, designated U.S. Navy Mark VII #386, is no stranger to SF Maritime NHP's Library collections--we have several titles on the U.S.S. Missouri, where the gun was mounted on the starboard side of one of the forward turrets.
If you come by the Library, be sure to come see one of our rare books that is of particular interest, covering the career of the ship during World War Two, U.S.S. Missouri published circa 1946. It is loaded with photographs illustrating the life of the Missouri's crew as well as the more noteworthy moments of her career, including a Presidential visit and hosting Japanese surrender ceremonies.
This particular gun is visible in many of the illustrations in the book, including one of her leaving San Francisco, heading out the Golden Gate (the smaller, bottom photo):
...and of the guns firing:
...as well as an aerial view of the vessel in the Panama Canal:
It's a beautiful copy of the book, and a replica of a plaque that she bears is on the cover--we hope you'll stop by the Library to see this book when you're in the area visiting Battery Townsley.
