This WWII Shipyard Complex Near SF Produced The Most Ships In The U.S. — It’s Now A Small National Park That You Can Reach By Ferry

We’re lucky to enjoy numerous world-renowned attractions all over the Bay Area, but one of the most underrated may be Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historic Park in Richmond. This historic site across the San Francisco Bay is dedicated to honoring the American home front effort , especially that of women and minorities, at Richmond’s enormous shipyard complex. The waterfront park is completely free to visit, and you can easily reach it via a 35-minute [ferry](https://secretsanfrancisco.com/boat-trips-ferry-building-sf/) from San Francisco’s Ferry Building. Keep reading to learn more about this overlooked Bay Area attraction. The growth of Richmond during WWII ---------------------------------- During World War II, Richmond’s shipyard complex was considered a model of American industrial mobilization , housing the four Kaiser Richmond Shipyards and 56 different war industries. The complex produced a total of 747 ships during the war, more than any other industrial center in the country. As an epicenter of local war efforts, the population of Richmond boomed from 24,000 in 1940 to nearly 100,000 in 1943, and eventually 120,000 by 1945. The availability of new war industry jobs attracted diverse people from across the United States, including many Black Americans from the South and Midwest, as well as women entering industrial jobs for the first time. This influx of workers advanced racial integration, gender roles, and worker health benefits , eventually resulting in the founding of Kaiser Permanente. The symbol of Rosie the Riveter emerged as a patriotic ode to women’s contributions on the home front, serving as a propaganda tool to recruit more women into industrial wartime jobs. During the ’70s and ’80s, the iconic Rosie image was again embraced as a symbol of women’s strength and workplace equality. Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historic Park -------------------------------------------------------- The Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front NHP celebrates the crucial work of women, African Americans, and other minorities who filled wartime jobs during this era in American history. Here’s what to know about the main sights at this unique historical park: * Visitor Education Center – Visitors learn about home front life in Richmond, including workers’ stories and accounts of wartime social change * Rosie the Riveter Memorial – This outdoor memorial in Marina Bay Park honors WWII home front workers * SS Red Oak Victory Ship – You can tour this restored WWII cargo ship built in Richmond’s shipyards * Kaiser Richmond Shipyards – Interpretive markers help you explore this historic shipbuilding district * Ford Assembly Building – This building was the site of essential wartime vehicle production (viewable from the outside) * Atchison Village – Tens of thousands of war workers lived in this public housing project, which is still a residential community * Kaiser Richmond Field Hospital – This historic property is linked to the founding of Kaiser Permanente and early employer-supported healthcare * San Francisco Bay Trail – This scenic waterfront trail offers bay views and historic markers about WWII. Visiting the park ----------------- 📍 Location : 1414 Harbour Way South, Suite 3000, Richmond, CA 94804 🕜 Hours : Daily 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM 🎟️ Tickets : Admission is free ⛴️ Ferry : You can reach the park via the Richmond Ferry, a 35-minute ride from SF’s Ferry Building 🌐 Website : National Park Service – Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historic Park Source: https://secretsanfrancisco.com/rosie-the-riveter-nhp-richmond-california/