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Learn more about the history behind the WWII Home Front by arriving first to the Visitor Education Center in Richmond, CA. ![]() Directions and Maps
Need directions to the Visitor Education Center or other areas of interest from the Home Front? ![]() History and Culture
Looking to learn more about the WWII Home Front? Start by clicking here. Why Richmond California?Richmond, California was chosen as the site for this National Historical Park because it has so many surviving sites and structures from the World War II years that can help tell the diverse stories of the home front. These stories include the mobilization of America’s industry and the changes in production techniques; the struggle for women’s and minority rights; the labor movement; the growth of pre-paid medical care; advances in early childhood education and day care; recycling and rationing; major shifts in population; and changes in arts and culture.
Legislation
The legislation establishing the park recognizes the national significance of the historic sites and structures within the City of Richmond. The importance of these resources is discussed in this section. While these historic resources are owned by different public and private entities, and not by the park, they all help tell the story of Rosie the Riveter and America's WWII home front. ![]() NPS photo, Luther Bailey. Historic Oil House - Home of the Visitor Education CenterThe remodeled Oil House sits on the edge of San Francisco Bay, adjacent to the Craneway. Its fuel once powered assembly lines for Ford automobiles, and later WWII assembly of jeeps and tanks. As part of the development of Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park, the Oil House was renovated to become the home for the park’s visitor education center in 2012. The Visitor Education Center (Oil House) for the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park is your first stop if you're just now learning abour our park and plan to explore WWII history in Richmond, CA. The Visitor Center is located at 1414 Harbour Way South, Suite 3000 in Richmond, California, at the Ford Assembly Plant complex. ![]() NPS photo, Luther Bailey. Ford Assembly PlantOut of the three wartime tank depots in the United States, the Ford Assembly Building is the only surviving structure. ![]() NPS photo, Luther Bailey. Rosie the Riveter MemorialThe Rosie the Riveter Memorial began as a public art project for the City of Richmond in the 1990's. During the creation of the memorial, the National Park Service was invited to participate, and this partnership led to the founding of the National Park in Richmond, California. Designed by visual artist Susan Schwartzenberg and landscape architect/environmental sculptor Cheryl Barton, the Rosie the Riveter Memorial: Honoring American Women's Labor During WWII is the first in the nation to honor and describe this important chapter of American history. Chairwoman Donna Powers led the campaign to establish the Memorial and the sculpture was commissioned by the City of Richmond and the Richmond Redevelopment Agency. Shipyard No. 3Richmond shipyards built 747 ships, including 519 Liberty Ships, which represented almost a quarter of the total U.S. Liberty Ship production. New methods of ship construction were developed and perfected in these shipyards, including prefabrication and intense labor specialization, which allowed the production of new vessels at a record pace. Chronology of SS Red Oak Victory ShipAugust 15, 1944 November 9, 1944 December 5, 1944 December 14 – 23, 1944 January 9 – 11, 1945 January 10, 1945 February 10, 1945 February 23 – 28, 1945 March 3 – May 26, 1945 May 8, 1945 August 6, 1945 August 9, 1945 August 15, 1945 September 2, 1945 May 21, 1946 June 12, 1946 – April 4, 1947 1947 – 1968 February 10, 1950 – May 5, 1951 November 20 – December 31, 1956 September 24 – October 3, 1957 October 3, 1957 – December 21, 1965 January 27, 1966 – September 16, 1968 October 10 – December 16, 1968 January 1968 January 12, 1970 – September 18, 1998 1996 September 18, 1998 September 20, 1998 August 20, 1998 November 2002 February 2011 September 2011 October 2011 March 4, 2016 July 9 – August 16 2018 ![]() NPS photo, Luther Bailey. SS Red Oak VictoryThe SS Red Oak Victory is the last surviving ship built in the Kaiser Shipyards, and is owned by the non-profit Richmond Museum Association. Today, the Red Oak Victory remains a monument to the men and women who worked in war related industries as part of the World War II Home Front. In 1998, the ship was saved from the Naval Reserve Fleet in Suisun Bay by a courageous group of men and women and has been under restoration since that time. When visiting, take the time to talk to the volunteers on boards the ship. If you are lucky enough to find one who actually served on Merchant Marine vessels during the war, find out what that life was like - ask them how they felt to be on board ships built by women. For more information about hours, please visit: www.redoakvictory.us ![]() NPS photo/Luther Bailey Whirley CraneLocation: Shipyard No.3 The Whirley Crane, named for its ability to turn 360 degrees, currently sits next to the SS Red Oak Victory ship. At a weight of close to 230 thousand pounds, this crane is the only one left of dozens that were used to help build ships at record speed. The scale of it, is enormous, like a revolving boxcar sitting on massive legs as tall as a 10-story building. Whirley cranes were used to move very large and heavy components from place to place in the shipyard. The cranes could work alone or in unison and could manage enormous amounts of steel while lifting and moving large, prefabricated components into place during the assembly of ships. A single Whirley crane could lift up to 166 thousand pounds, alone. More Historic Sites and Places to Visit in RichmondSome of the following sites are either reservations only, closed to the public, active neighborhoods or only accessible by walking. These sites are significant to the history of the city. Spend some time driving by the following locations to explore more about Richmond's Home Front story! If you have a question about a specific site, you can contact the Visitor Education Center at 510-232-5050 ext. 0. ![]() NPS photo, Luther Bailey. Maritime Child Development CenterIn addition to health care, Henry J. Kaiser provided child care for families working in his four Richmond shipyards during WWII. The child care centers he built with funding provided by the United States Maritime Commission incorporated progressive educational programming, and innovative curriculum and services including art classes, well-balanced hot meals, health care, and family counseling.
One of the largest facilities in Richmond was the Maritime Child Development Center, opened in 1943. Completely restored and reopened as a multi-use building in 2011, today it houses a small exhibit by the National Park Service of a wartime preschool classroom. On regularly scheduled guided tours, visitors have the opportunity to explore the vital role of federally funded childcare in bringing women into the WWII work force. Tours are available by appointment as well. Other Park Sites in the East BayExplore our other National Park sites in the East Bay. |
Last updated: May 19, 2023