Women affectionately known as "Rosies" changed America. Richmond, California played a significant and nationally recognized part in the World War II Home Front. Richmond was home to over 56 war industries, more than any other city of its size in the United States.
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| Rosie Memorial |
During WWII, thousands of men and women worked in this area everyday, in very hazardous jobs. Actively
recruited by Kaiser, they came from all over the United States to swell the population of Richmond from 20,000 to over 100,000 in three short years. For many of them, this was the first time they worked and earned money. It was the first time they were faced with the problems of being working parents – finding day care and housing.
Three years before the national park was created, the City of Richmond initiated the Rosie Memorial to celebrate this important aspect of their community's history.
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| Ford Assembly Plant |
President Roosevelt banned
civilian automobile production during WWII. This Ford Assembly Plant assembled 49,000 jeeps, but its “claim to fame” was becoming one of only three tank depots in the entire United States. Every combat vehicle used in WWII was processed by one of these three depots. Here the finishing touches were put on 91,000 tanks, half-tracks, armored cars and other military vehicles destined for combat.
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| The Visitor Center shared lots of information. |
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| Shipyard No. 3 & SS Red Oak Victory Ship |
Over 747 ships were built in the four Richmond Kaiser Shipyards
during WWII. Prior to WWII it would take approximately one year to
build ships of this size. By 1945, the average time for construction
was less than one month, and in Shipyard #2, the SS Robert E. Peary
Liberty ship was constructed in under 5 days.
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| Lunch at Spenger's Fish Grotto in Berkeley |
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