Angel Island SP Fort McDowell
Site#S0025.8
HistoryIn 1909, a major building began on what had been the site of the Discharge Camp, and Fort McDowell expanded into a Recruit Depot. In just a few years, a 600-man barracks, a new Post Hospital, a Main Mess hall with seating for 1400 men, officers' quarters, a guard house, and other buildings were constructed. Most of these buildings are still standing today. In 1922, Fort McDowell became an Overseas Discharge and Replacement Depot, and became engaged in the processing of men going to the Pacific and men returning from overseas duty. By 1926 Fort McDowell was handling about 40,000 men per year - it was the largest troop staging facility on the west coast, and handled more troop traffic than any other post in the country. This activity was due to the fact that from 1900 to 1941, the only U.S. military bases outside the continental United States were those in the Pacific, at Guam, the Philippines, Panama, Wake Island, and Hawaii.