mare island naval shipyard

The entire former Naval facility has been left is a state of arrested decay. Most of the buildings are abandoned, and have not been restored, but they have not been destroyed either, offering visitors the extraordinary chance to walk straight into the past. The haunting beauty of this fading industrial structures is incredible, so bring a camera! This National Historic Landmark District truly deserves its status. Highlights include the Officer's Row, St. Peter's chapel with its Tiffany glass windows, a large building with "Mare Island Naval Shipyard" on it, and the dry-docks right behind the museum. You can arrange a tour through the museum or simply drive around the island on your own. Avoid the hustle and bustle of Six Flags and come enjoy some peace, quiet, and beauty on Mare Island!

My main reason for going to the Mare Island Naval Shipyard was to see the actual ship my dad was stationed on in WWII. My dad passed away 13 years ago and I really wish he could have been there to tour it with me. I was very lucky to have been in contact with Bill Mason, the WWII vet responsible for getting the LSC(L) 102 from Thailand to San Francisco. He was not on this ship but another of the same kind. We were so fortunate to have him give us the tour and to hear his stories. This is the only ship of its kind left in existence and they have done a remarkable job restoring it. If you're interested in WWII history, definitely take a tour of this ship! It's open to the public Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays - check the hours but I think it was 10 am until 2 pm.

How much they changed the old base. Where did all those big beautiful houses go that were the commanders quarters & such. They leveled so much I couldn't tell where I was. It didn't end where it does now, from back in the early 70's. So much has gone to ruin. So much waste and decay. Many of those old barracks should be turned into housing for the poor. Find material donations, & have them do the work, teaching them a new skill to move forward with. Utilization, reuse, helping needy citizens, being PRO-ductive.

Mare Island Naval shipyard and the grounds of Mare Island are not to be missedfor local and out of the area visitors. it is not a place with lots of hype and commercialattractions but the sights and architecture of the various buildings is well worth the visit.On the north side there is an entrance from Highway 37 which is not well marked butit easy to enter right after making a right turn from Highway 29 running through the Napa Valley.On the south side it is easy to enter from Vallejo after passing the Vallejo ferry terminal and crossing the bridge into Mare Island. If you have some time take the drive around Mare Islandand see the extensive new home development under way and some beautiful natural habitathomes to birds of many varieties.

I couldn't find a lot of information on visiting Mare Island, so we (My girlfriend and I) had no idea how to enter. We didn't know if there was parking, or if it was even open to the public! The adventurer in us drove there on a Saturday anyway to see if we could figure it out. We drove in through Mare Island Causeway and took MIC about 2 blocks to Azure Drive and turned left. We drove until we see a blue sign that said San Pablo Bay Trail and parked in the gravel parking lot as it was a public place. As well, parking at the shipyard seemed to be permit parking only. Unbeknownst to us, people were working in some of the buildings on site (Contractors & Firms). I was under the impression the entire area was abandon. It didn't really matter though, we walked around freely except for the areas that were clearly marked NO TRESPASSING. As an amatuer photographer, this place was paradise. I'm too chicken to go at night, and I'm too much of a germaphobe to go inside any of those abandon buildings. There is clearly lead paint, asbestos, and God knows what else on/in those buildings. From what I heard/read the site as a whole is pretty contaminated. I wouldn't touch anything if I were you!I totally enjoyed walking around the area and taking photos, it was fun. I think it's one of those places you have to visit at least once. Cheers.

Easy access off Azuar Drive. Look for the dark blue sign with white lettering: "San Pablo Bay Trail." You will park in a gravel lot. At the trailhead and along the trail you will see educational signs describing the salt marsh harvest mouse and bird life as well as the history of Mare Island at the trail head and along the trail. No restrooms.This trail is ideal for people who want an easy, flat, unpaved walk or run. The loop hugs the shoreline with wonderful views of the expansive San Pablo Bay. It circles back a little more inland with a total distance around 4 miles. No shade so mind the sun if you come here in summer. Gentle breezes will make temps slightly cooler than inland. There are benches to rest upon and observe the abundant bird life - the trail is part of the annual bird migration called "flyway."It's easy to love this place - you really feel like you are "in nature" - and to forget about the unattractive "ruins" of the former Naval shipyard. This trail is a diamond in the rough! Get out there and enjoy the good things in Vallejo!

This place is a wonderful place to shoot architectural pictures.We spent an entire day and part of the evening wandering around shooting industrial scenes, artistic compositions, and natural landscapes.Great museum etc,not much in the way of food & drink or "amusements," but the nature preserve is a great place to walk... herons and all kinds of seabirds on the shoreline. The whole island is full of dilapidated buildings and decaying infrastructure, and there are great-looking brick buildings from the first world war, cement buildings from the 30s, rusting cranes and derricks... Not a lot of people getting in the way: a photographer's dream!

The island is being developed by Lennar Homes. Lennar continues to build streets, tear down non conforming buildings and is re-building the island's infrastucture. The island is now the headquarters for Vallejo Public Schools, and the US Forestry Service.. along with many manufacturers including a home manufacturing plant. The first residents bought their homes before the Great Recession and thus home values plummeted. The last 8 new properties were sold by Realty World Silverado about 3 years ago.Home values have increased the past two years. Lennar is expected to start building again as the real estate market recovers.The Island does have the oldest and one of the newest golf courses West of the Mississippi. The course can be very challenging and is one of the best courses in California that is open to the public. The golf course sports great bay and river views. It also has a place to eat.ST Peter's Chapel is a must see. You might have to stop at the museum to find the fellow to let you in...there is a small fee and its worth it. The stained windows are valued at several million dollars. It is a national treasure.There is also a VA Clinic on the island and Touro University-Medical school is on the island.The drive on the island is scenic with many old navy buildings still standing.

Admiral Faragut was the original commander in 1854; during World War 2, 46,000 workers built and repaired naval vessels here. Now the shipyard is decommissioned, property of city of Vallejo, and a few of the buildings are used by manufacturing companies for light assembly.The oldest buildings, the dry dock, the cranes from WW2, the officers' quarters and St. Peter's chapel are now under maintenance by the Mare Island Historic Park Foundation, a group of energetic and friendly volunteers, many of whom worked at the shipyard before its closure in 1997. I took a three-hour tour with Joyce, a former civilian employee, who knows incredible detail and allowed our group to set the pace and explore independently after she completed the formal orientation. The Heritage Museum, housed in one of the original buildings, offers extensive displays and information about naval history. The tour is well worth the fee.The lovely little chapel contains over 20 Tiffany windows. The admiral's mansion and some officer's homes are furnished authentically and beautifully, complete with gardens. (Available to rent for weddings, etc.) What I most enjoyed was walking Nimitz Avenue where so many factory buildings stand empty, imagining thousands of men and women pouring in for their 24/7 shifts at this shipyard where the war effort was everyone's job, not just the uniformed military. There is free parking but I did not see any restaurants. There is no public transport to the island from Vallejo, but the Society arranged pickup at the ferry landing for three of us. (The one-hour ferry ride from San Francisco was an added treat--interesting views in the North Bay)Not for young children, but a wonderful experience for interested adults, and plenty of photo ops.See mareislandhpf.org for details on visiting.

Officer's Quarters, Power plants, building ways, Marine barracks, CPO Club, history is everywhere! Over 150 years of naval construction occurred here. Too much to tell of here! You must see it for yourself!

I loved the Museum, and the park at the foot of the island run by the Mare Island Heritage Society. Friendly with a fantastic 360 degree view. The buildings and large officers quarters are fascinating. A gem.

The history here is hard to beleave. Was the oldest shipyard on the west coast. Built ships an record time during WWTWO.

The scenery if facinating with the old buildings, but there is an air of sadness and disrepair for much of it. The museum is a valiant effort by volunteers to reflect its long and complicated past.

Fantastic history naval base that has been re-purposed into a beautiful residential community. The views from the island of San Pablo Bay are amazing. Must see.

We had a wonderful 4 hour tour with volunteer George. Ask for George--he is the greatest. He is full of knowledge and very enthusiastic. He is very exacting with his facts about the history of Mare Island. The volunteers we met in the museum are lovely. You will see the museum, the commandant's house, and the magnificent St. Peter's Chapel (1901) with beautiful Tiffany windows. You will learn about the history of shipbuilding and repair and see so many historic buildings. George took us to many sites and told in detail about each one. We saw the new developments on the island--new houses, commercial reuse of old buildings and Touro University.