Watch a powerful documentary on The Port Chicago Disaster. Click link for the presentation page.
The Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial.
NPS/Luther Bailey
Visiting the Memorial
Did You Know?
The memorial is on an active military base at the site of the original disaster. All tours require an advance reservation and are guided only.
Your Tour of the Site
A guided tour of the Port Chicago disaster starts with visitors being picked up in a park shuttle at the John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez, California. A ranger will provide interpretive dialog which helps the visitor to learn more about the Port Chicago disaster. Being at the memorial allows the visitor to stand where the explosion took place, as well as viewing the dedication memorials that provide names and information about this historical event. Visitors are encouraged to ask questions.
Historic Site Information
The Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial is a memorial dedicated in 1994 recognizing the dead of the Port Chicago disaster, and the critical role played by Port Chicago, California during World War II. The memorial is located at the Concord Naval Weapons Station near Concord, California, in the United States.
The 1944 Port Chicago disaster occurred at the naval magazine and resulted in the largest domestic loss of life during World War II. 320 sailors and civilians were instantly killed on July 17, 1944, when the ships they were loading with ammunition and bombs exploded. The majority of the deaths were African American sailors working for the racially segregated military. The explosion and its aftermath led to the largest Naval mutiny in US history, and it and the subsequent trial became major catalysts for the United States Navy to desegregate following the war.
