A Visit to Angel Island and Nike Missile Site SF-91

On June 25th, 2026, my grandson and I took a trip to Angel Island to visit the remains of Nike Missile Site SF-91, including the former launcher area at Fort McDowell.

Before our visit, I contacted the California State Park Rangers who manage Angel Island and asked whether it might be possible to see inside the launcher area. Former SF-88 Ranger Al Blank had told me that some Nike equipment remained in one of the magazines and was in good condition.

Because the park staff was busy preparing for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, they were unable to accommodate my request. Even without access to the underground magazines, there was still a great deal to see from the surface.

One of the best ways to see Angel Island is by bicycle. A bicycle rental stand on the island offers both conventional pedal bicycles and e-bikes. I brought my own bicycle and rented a pedal bicycle for my grandson. There are many steep grades around the island, and on my next visit I will probably rent an e-bike.

There is also a tram tour that travels around the island and provides a convenient way to see many of the historic areas.

Angel Island has a long military history. Coastal artillery installations were established during the Civil War era to help defend San Francisco Bay. The island later served military personnel during the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II. Many historic buildings and military remains can still be seen today. Another important part of the island's history is its immigration station. Exhibits tell the stories of Chinese and other Asian immigrants who were detained on Angel Island while awaiting admission to the United States. Especially memorable are the poems carved into the wooden walls by detainees and preserved with translations. I was very impressed by this exhibit.

We did not have enough time to hike to the top of Mount Livermore to see what remains of the SF-91 Integrated Fire Control (IFC) area.

The SF-91 launcher area is in remarkably good condition considering how many years have passed since the Nike installation was active. Because the site is on an island in San Francisco Bay, I expected to find corrosion similar to what can be seen at SF-88 near the Pacific coast. Instead, the visible rust and corrosion appeared relatively limited.

The launcher area also offers beautiful views of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, Alcatraz, Oakland to the east, and Tiburon to the north.

*SF-91L — Fort McDowell, Angel Island* 2 Ajax magazines, 1 Ajax/Hercules magazine, 30 Nike Ajax

D/9th (55–9/58) D/2/51st (9/58–61)

To get there, you can take the Angel Island ferry from San Francisco or Tiburon.

Tiburon is a quaint town with many good eating establishments.