Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

Personal Narrative Cards

National Memorial
1994
 
Park Size
5 acres
 
Annual Visitors
764
 
Park Fee
none
 
Superintendent
K. Lynn Berry
 
Park Partner
Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial
 
Location
Contra Costa County, CA

On July 17, 1944, a huge explosion of ammunition being loaded onto a ship at Port Chicago Naval Magazine killed 320 sailors and civilians and injured 390 others. A month after the disaster, hundreds of the African-American sailors stationed there defied the orders of their white officers to continue loading ammunition under the same unsafe conditions. This resulted in the conviction and incarceration of 50 of the sailors for mutiny. The trial raised significant public concern about the fairness of the proceedings and led to the eventual desegregation of the military.
 
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial was established to honor the victims of the disaster. The memorial is still located on an active military base, so visitation is limited to ranger-led tours booked in advance. Interest in the park site is growing rapidly, and the National Park Service has recently increased its outreach to local school children.
 
The current site has educational signs about the explosion, but very little about the people involved. The Fund for People in Parks provided a grant to fund the research, design, and publication of a series of cards depicting individuals involved in the Port Chicago disaster. 

​The cards were printed in 2021 and are currently being used with the public and local students, enriching the visitor experience greatly by giving a personal connection to this important American story.
 
Project Cost: $27,042                                                                    Project Completed: 2021