Fort Point became a key battleground on the Pacific Coast during the American Civil War.

Fort Point, located at the entrance of the San Francisco Bay, played a strategic role during the American Civil War. As a crucial military installation, it was used to protect the Bay Area and prevent Confederate forces from gaining control of the vital Pacific coastline. Though California was a free state, tensions between Union and Confederate sympathizers made Fort Point and similar locations key to maintaining Union control. The fort remained in Union hands throughout the war, contributing to the stability and defense of the Pacific Coast region.