It has been the site of military fortifications since 1864, most notably in the late 1890s, when most of the presently surviving Fort Columbia structures were built.

The point, which constitutes the most developed portion of Fort Columbia State Park, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961.

The point is fortified with the remains of Fort Columbia, which include thirteen buildings erected in 1902, and three artillery emplacements installed between 1897 and 1900.

British Captain James Cook explored the coastline in 1778, but missed the entrance bay entirely due to bad weather.

The area became of military interest in the 1860s, when the United States embarked on a systematic improvements to its coastal defenses, including in the Pacific Northwest.