Battery Spencer for kids
The Hidden Cannons. A true story near Sausalito, CA, told for kids 3-12.
Read along
Shhh. Can you keep a secret? These hills are full of hiding places. More than a hundred years ago, soldiers built big concrete rooms right inside the hills, and they put giant cannons in them.
They piled dirt and grass on top, so from a ship out on the ocean, it just looked like a normal grassy hill. Sneaky, right? One of these hiding spots is called Battery Spencer. Its cannons were so big that one shell was heavier than a grown-up person!
The soldiers were here to watch the Golden Gate, day and night, so no enemy ship could sneak in. And just like Fort Point, they never, ever had to fire at an enemy. Now the old battery is the best spot for a bridge photo.
Quiz the back seat
How did the soldiers hide their cannons?
Show the answer
Under dirt and grass. Under dirt and grass! From the ocean, it looked just like a normal hill.
3 fun facts
- Battery Spencer was built in the 1890s.
- It's named for Revolutionary War general Joseph Spencer.
- Its guns never fired at an enemy.
For grown-ups
Written by the Tumbly team, then checked claim by claim against the sources below before it was published; stories that don't pass stay off the app and this site. Narration is pre-recorded, and nothing you do on this page is tied to your kids.
Sources
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