Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

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, in serving as the main facility for the Pacific Theater of Operations. The national memorial is located at the Concord Naval Weapons Station near Concord, California, in the United States.

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
Map showing the location of Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
Map showing the location of Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
Map showing the location of Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
Map showing the location of Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
LocationConcord, California, U.S.
Nearest cityOakland, California
Coordinates38°3′27″N 122°1′47″W
Area5 acres (2.0 ha)[1]
EstablishedOctober 28, 1992 (1992-October-28)
Visitors545 (in 2011)[2]
Governing bodyU.S. Navy & National Park Service
WebsitePort Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
Aftermath of the Port Chicago explosion.

The 1944 Port Chicago disaster occurred at the naval magazine and resulted in the largest domestic loss of life during World War II. A total of 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.[3]

History

The national memorial, administered by the National Park Service, was authorized by Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 102–562 on October 28, 1992. The memorial was dedicated in 1994 and is located on the grounds of the Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO), formerly the Tidal Area of the Concord Naval Weapons Station. The memorial is only open to the public through reserved guided tours. On October 28, 2009, the Memorial became an official unit of the National Park System.

Plans

The Port Chicago Committee is working toward expanding the current memorial to encompass 250 acres (1.0 km2) of the former Port Chicago waterfront. The memorial site could include some of the railroad revetments and old boxcars from the 1940s period, as well as the existing memorial chapel, with stained-glass windows depicting the World War II operations.

See also

References
  1. "Listing of acreage – December 31, 2011" (XLSX). Land Resource Division, National Park Service. Retrieved March 23, 2012. (National Park Service Acreage Reports)
  2. "NPS Annual Recreation Visits Report". National Park Service. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  3. National Park Service. "People - Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved July 18, 2023.

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