Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
4.5
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
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The area
How to get there
- North Concord/Martinez • 6 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
17 reviews
Excellent
12
Very good
4
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
dmbakerphd
Terre Haute185 contributions
Oct 2022
This is a challenging park to visit due to its presence o a military base. We were able to visit as part of a tour group--about 28 of us with our group departing from John Muir NHS. The weather was beautiful by the water. The story is so important for the history of the area as well as US history. The first seeds of desegregation began here after this tragedy and it is important that we remember the loss of life and freedoms that occurred here. We had ample time to see the site before returning back to John Muir NHS.
Written 3 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Citallwic
Columbia, SC8,762 contributions
Nov 2019
It's a darn shame that Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial is one of the five least-visited units in the entire 419-unit National Park System, officially logging fewer than 700 visitors in 2018. Yes, this historic site is situated on an active military installation with restricted access; yes, you do need to make a reservation and furnish some security info for everyone in your group (names, drivers license numbers); yes, you do need to report to the John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez at the scheduled time to meet your guide and get a briefing; yes, the van shuttle to and from the Port Chicago site is a bit of a bother (15 minutes or so each way); yes, you may have to wait a bit for somebody to come and open the gate; and yes, you may even find your tour cancelled without notice due to base security needs . But, wow, is it ever worth it! Port Chicago is the site of a catastrophic accident that occurred on July 17, 1944 when a fully loaded ammunition ship exploded and killed more than 300 people. The mutiny of African-American sailors that ensued (at Mare Island Naval Shipyard) is one of the more intriguing recially-charged events of World War II here in the mainland U.S. The information and photos the guide provides greatly enhances the worth of the visit. Personally, I found the tour of the adjacent revetment, where munitions were unloaded from railroad cars, the most interesting aspect of our Port Chicago visit.
Written 8 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
N_skier
Concord, CA297 contributions
Aug 2015 • Solo
The Port Chicago ammunition disaster remains an almost hidden part of World War II history. The munitions explosion killed 300+ Naval and civilian personnel, mostly African-American.
Although it is a bit cumbersome to get on a tour (I will explain later) to the Port Chicago Naval Magazine Memorial, it is worth the effort. The National Park Service has done a good job with the tour. It begins with a short documentary film at the John Muir National Historical Monument. Then you ride in a van to the Concord Naval Weapons Station, then on to the base, then to the site of the explosion, which is on land that is still part of the active Naval Base. (Note: this part of the Base is being retained by the Navy, and is not part of the land that is planned for development.)
The Memorial itself is peaceful and solemn. All that remains of the original deep-water port is two lines of pier pilings. Very few bodies were recovered after the
explosion, so the Memorial actually is the final resting place for many sailors and civilians. With that said, this tour is probably not appropriate for children, though high school or middle school students might appreciate it with some preparation.
Slightly inland from the Memorial itself, an ammunition revetment, with a railway car, has been preserved to help you understand the difficulties and dangers of dealing with large quantities of ammunition and bombs.
To visit the Port Chicago Naval Magazine Memorial you need to make a reservation through the National Park Service (925-228-8860, ext 6520). The tours run two or three times a week, but the frequency depends upon activities at the Base. Tours are small, about 8-10 people, and it is a good idea to think about planning 4 - 6 weeks in advance, but, as I said, it is well worth the effort.
Although it is a bit cumbersome to get on a tour (I will explain later) to the Port Chicago Naval Magazine Memorial, it is worth the effort. The National Park Service has done a good job with the tour. It begins with a short documentary film at the John Muir National Historical Monument. Then you ride in a van to the Concord Naval Weapons Station, then on to the base, then to the site of the explosion, which is on land that is still part of the active Naval Base. (Note: this part of the Base is being retained by the Navy, and is not part of the land that is planned for development.)
The Memorial itself is peaceful and solemn. All that remains of the original deep-water port is two lines of pier pilings. Very few bodies were recovered after the
explosion, so the Memorial actually is the final resting place for many sailors and civilians. With that said, this tour is probably not appropriate for children, though high school or middle school students might appreciate it with some preparation.
Slightly inland from the Memorial itself, an ammunition revetment, with a railway car, has been preserved to help you understand the difficulties and dangers of dealing with large quantities of ammunition and bombs.
To visit the Port Chicago Naval Magazine Memorial you need to make a reservation through the National Park Service (925-228-8860, ext 6520). The tours run two or three times a week, but the frequency depends upon activities at the Base. Tours are small, about 8-10 people, and it is a good idea to think about planning 4 - 6 weeks in advance, but, as I said, it is well worth the effort.
Written 30 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marietta P
Huntsville, AL2,534 contributions
Jul 2013 • Couples
We tried several times to visit the memorial but each time the U.S. Army cancelled the planned visit. We got smart on our fourth try and decided to schedule our visit (you must schedule weeks in advance) for the 69th Annual Commemoration. We finally made it, although I heard the Army did try to cancel the commemoration as well because they had a ship coming in that they wanted to load. Anyway, it was very sobering to be reminded of how poorly the black sailors were treated and the commemoration did not shy away from the difficult issues. If anyone plans to visit the site I recommend they do so during one of the annual commemorations.
Written 24 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ngraham
San Francisco, CA99 contributions
Mar 2013 • Friends
Getting out here takes a bit of planning, but it's worth it. You meet a shuttle bus and Park Ranger at the gate and confirm your clearance. You then drive with the Ranger through MOTCO (Military Ocean Terminal Concord), which is an active base. The memorial is very nicely done, and our guide was great. You also get to check out one of the ammo car revetments. We also happened to be there at the same time as a 4 star general!
Written 29 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rodney R
97 contributions
Oct 2019
In 1980 I was stationed at Concord Naval Weapons Station. I knew of the explosion at Port Chicago in 1942 as it was part if our training & why my unit existed. In 1997 the Port Chicago National Monument was dedicated to memorialize the incident and honor the 300 plus men that died in this tragic event. This is a must see educational experience ⚓️
Written 29 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aaron P
Concord, CA122 contributions
Apr 2017 • Friends
I had such an amazing time touring this site. The required background check took about a week to clear, but after that everything was a breeze. Take your camera, so much to see. The van ride from Martinez was a little awkward because we were stuffed in there like sardines. Would like to go again sometime soon.
Written 21 January 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christine T
Monroe, NY333 contributions
Jun 2017 • Family
This is a place I knew NOTHING about but my son wanted to go. It turned out to be very interesting. The ranger we had was NOT as good as many I have come across in the park service, but he answered most questions
Written 1 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ssdirotm
Fallston, MD171 contributions
Apr 2017
Port Chicago is another example of a quality NPS site made special by a caring, passionate ranger. Ranger Stephanie provided context for what could have been a simple stop, picture, leave, site. The reservation process was simple and accessing the base via John Muir NHS was a breeze.
Written 23 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
William D
Concord, CA15 contributions
Jul 2015 • Solo
I had the opportunity to visit the Memorial last year on the day of the annual commemoration of the explosion that killed the crews of the ships being loaded and all of the dock workers present. It was a moving ceremony for military and civilians alike.
The Weapons Station is still actively loading and unloading live ammunition destined for military operations in the Pacific and is not open to the public on a daily basis. The public can only access the base on days when there are no ships at the station. And then you must be under the supervision of a Ranger with the National Parks Service.
Reservations can be made by contacting the John Muir Home Historical Site in Martinez, California. You must provide a valid I.D., Drivers License number, and Social Security number to be considered. After your request has been reviewed the Park service will contact you with possible dates for a tour. The Rangers are very knowledgeable about the history of the Weapons Station. This is a must see for World War II history buffs.
The Weapons Station is still actively loading and unloading live ammunition destined for military operations in the Pacific and is not open to the public on a daily basis. The public can only access the base on days when there are no ships at the station. And then you must be under the supervision of a Ranger with the National Parks Service.
Reservations can be made by contacting the John Muir Home Historical Site in Martinez, California. You must provide a valid I.D., Drivers License number, and Social Security number to be considered. After your request has been reviewed the Park service will contact you with possible dates for a tour. The Rangers are very knowledgeable about the history of the Weapons Station. This is a must see for World War II history buffs.
Written 15 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is that anything to see and learn if you can’t get a tour reservation to go to the memorial? Any visitor center? Movie? Exhibits?
Written 10 July 2022
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