Fort Mason Philip Burton Statue San Francisco 4 Editorial Image

Fort Mason in San Francisco has history going back to the American Civil War even though no battles took place in California during this period. It did have the gold at the time which both side did want, and although the state was supplying the Union with troops, it also had a still open harbor, which the south did need. Since most of the residents of San Francisco at this time were from other countries more than there rest of this country, their ideals were to supporting and joining the Union.Privately owned by Major General John C Fremont, the land was seized by the federal government under orders by President Lincoln as it was too valuable to the war. The fort is named for Richard Mason, military governor of California before statehood, and descendent of George Mason, one of the signers of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.Philip Burton was a California congressman whose home district included San Francisco, and even though he was no outdoorsman himself, he did see the need to create the legislation creating the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, one of the largest, public park systems in the world. Burton, a Democratic, was such an influential speaker on behalf of developing the park system, he even encouraged Richard Nixon, a Republican, to come and visit Fort Mason.This stature of Philip Burton, in Fort Mason, with fog shrouded Golden Gate Bridge in the back,As seen 20 October 2022.