National Park Service Hosts "Spooktacular" Arts and Crafts Event at Historic Maritime Center

Date: September 20, 2014
Contact: Lucien Sonder, 510-232-5050 ext. 6622

Kids and families are invited to join National Park Service rangers for Halloween-themed arts and crafts on Saturday, October 18, 2014, at the historic Maritime Center, part of Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, CA.This free, three-hour program will begin at noon, with craft projects running until 2:30pm. The Halloween crafts will use recycled and everyday household items, similar to crafts that children used to make during the World War II years.

During the final half hour of this program, from 2:30-3:00 PM, families are invited for a kid-friendly tour of the wartime preschool classroom exhibit in the same building. Visitors will be able to learn more about the types of crafts children created during the war.

The Maritime Center is located at 1014 Florida Ave, at the corner of Harbour Way, in Richmond, CA. Reservations are not required for this event. All items for craft projects will be provided. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Kids and parents are reminded to wear comfortable clothing that you do not mind getting dirty.

Maritime Center building first opened its doors in 1943, originally named the Maritime Child Development Center.For the duration of WWII, the Center received federal funding, and offered progressive educational programming and care for children ages 2-12, six days per week. Through leading tours of this building and other park sites, the National Park Service explores the social and community responses to the World War II home front effort in Richmond and across the country.The building was completely restored and reopened in 2011, and is now owned by the Rosie the Riveter Trust, the park's nonprofit partner.

The Rosie the Riveter Visitor Education Center is open seven days a week from 10 AM to 5 PM and is located at 1414 Harbour Way South, suite 3000, Richmond, CA 94804. For more information and directions to the Visitor Education Center, please call [phone] x0 or visit to https://www.nps.gov/rori/planyourvisit/directions.htm. Admission to the Visitor Center and all park sites and programs is free.