Description

From 1936 to 1938, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) did renovations and upgrades to Fort Baker, an Army base on the north side of the Golden Gate dating from the early 1900s.

One project included renewal of the storm water drainage system, repair of the electric and water distribution system, and three new fire hydrants. It also included installation of a steam heating system in Barracks No. 1 (structure no. 602), which had been heated by fireplaces. (Thompson, p. 59)

Most of the buildings got a new coat of paint, inside and out. Latrines, kitchens, and mess halls received two coats of paint. 

Later, the interior plaster of all the officers’ quarters was repaired and painted. The hospital was painted inside and out, and so was the interior of the post headquarters building. (p. 101)

Another project made minor repairs in most of the buildings, including a few new roofs and enclosing the rear porches on three barracks. (p 60)  At the same time extensive plumbing repairs were made in the two barracks: flush valves in toilets, new lavatories, new wash trays, new kitchen sinks, and repair of showers. (p. 101)

Lastly, the WPA relief workers cleared off of the large central parade ground, graded and planted slopes behind all the buildings, and graded and improved 3 miles of the entrance road (pp. 17, 101)

Fort Baker is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area under the National Park Service.  Most of the historic Army buildings are intact, but we cannot be sure which WPA improvements are still there (everything has definitely been repainted).