Red Oak Victory — Attraction in Richmond

We visited Red Oak Victory during the late summer. We drove up and spent the morning in Vallejo at LCS-102 and then toured Red Oak Victory in the afternoon. Red Oak Victory is one of the most internally immaculate museum ships I've been on - the engine room is a marvel in particular, as well as the steering station aft (which I have never visited on another Victory or Liberty ship - and I have been on SS John W. Brown and SS American Victory on the east coast). We had the privilege of being shown around by the head docent, Alan, who was a wealth of knowledge. The setting for the museum is also excellent, the big eerie storage warehouse next door and the historic crane next to the ship all help the visitor envision what this shipyard looked like in WWII. It is the most intact site remaining of the storied Kaiser Shipyards. Parking was very easy, finding the ship was easy (driving around a massive lot of Subarus), and bathrooms were readily available. The exterior of the ship shows some rust due to the harsh salt & wind, but don't let that fool you - overall the ship is in great shape and walking the decks is an adventure worth taking. The ship is only open once per week so I recommend contacting them ahead of time to ensure your visit actually coincides with their open hours. This is a must-do if in the Bay Area whatsoever. It really gives you a feeling for what these merchant marines did during WWII, the marvel that Victory Ships were/are, and how Richmond contributed to the war effort. Plus, Red Oak Victory was actually a navy ship (for transporting ammo) in WWII, so that's an added bonus. Neatly enough, I found out that the 5-inch gun on the stern was actually the old training gun from Treasure Island that was displaced by the recent redevelopment there. Cool way to pass on some San Fran history to a ship that needed a more...

This floating. Museum, a historic naval ship is one of the last remaining ships built during WWII offering a connection to Rosie’s and the Sailors who served on this wartime ship. My husband, being a Navy Chief, explored every inch of this ship. For me, being able to experience a glimpse of what it was to have served on this ship during war was incredible. The hammocks in the dual purpose mess hall or valley, the 3 and 4 beds in a room the size of a closet made me realize how difficult it must be to adapt to small spaces, no room for personal items and no privacy. I was happy to see movie night, and tiny ice cream counters, a small store, a Barber Shop, Dentist Ann of course Medical. They were served a traditibal Thanksgiving meal but that display was bittersweet understanding that they were not with families.The many decks require many stairs. This ship also brought to life the war between US and Japan. From Pearl Harbor to Okinawa to being decommissioned in 1946. Allow yourself plenty of time to visit every deck. TIPS: 1) Bring water, especially during hot months 2) Wear sneakers as ladders could be challenging for some 3) Duration could be 1-2 hrs depending on your interest level. We spent 90 minutes. 4) Weekday, during school periods worked for us as far...

GREAT WWII HISTORY!!! I was a Richmond resident and a R.U.H.S. Oiler as a young man and was thrilled to no end when I learned this remarkable history about Richmond. It's been 41 years since I left the Bay Area and returned for a tour at Christmas 2016. We were touring Pt. Richmond when our wanderings lead us to the Kaiser Ship-Building Docks of WWII on Canal Blvd. The volunteers and staff of Red Oak Victory are simply wonderful. They were extremely helpful and we thoroughly enjoyed their information and insights about the ship. The ONLY one left of the 747 ships built at Richmond, this is a very special part of WWII history. We sooo appreciated our tour and the fabulous way we were treated. It's a self guided tour so you can take your time and visit where you want for as long as you want. The only thing I would like to mention is PLEASE ramp up your marketing efforts so more people can enjoy this monument. There are many many WWII buffs that would love to visit this historic sight. Keep up the great work you are doing to restore her. Kudos. ...