National Register of Historic Places

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

Martinez, Contra Costa County, California
Listed
October 28, 2009
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
11000237

About this property

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 Military Ocean Terminal Concord (formerly the Concord Naval Weapons Station) near Concord, California, in the United States. 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.

Location

4202 Alhambra Ave.
Martinez, Contra Costa County, California
37.99202, -122.13068
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

John Muir National Historic Site
Industrial
0.1 mi
Martinez Grammar School Annex
Industrial
1.5 mi
Tucker House
Civil War
1.7 mi
Martinez City Library
Industrial
1.8 mi
Contra Costa County Hall of Records (Additional Documentation)
Industrial
1.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial listed on the National Register?

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 28, 2009.

What type of historic resource is Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial?

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial?

The period of significance for Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial?

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