NPS Sites of the East Bay Area - part 3 - Port Chicago Naval Magazine NM

The tour for Port Chicago Naval Magazine NM leaves from John Muir NHS and is a story from World War II that most people haven't heard.  The site is on an active military base, so it requires signing in with an ID and the tour can be canceled when there is last minute activity on the base.  There are generally only three tours a week.

There was a massive explosion in 1944 when two ships that were being loaded with ammunition exploded killing 320 people.  The pilings from the original pier are still there, but that is all that remains.  The aftermath of the explosion led to a mutiny and a military race debate.

One of the most interesting sites on the tour was the area used to store rail cars that were filled with explosives, so that they were protected.

Debris flew throughout the base and into the nearby towns and can occasionally still be found today.  This debris is being stored at Eugene O'Neill NHS.