Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
California
Free entry
On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two ships loading ammunition for Pacific troops exploded, resulting in the worst home front disaster of WWII. The aftermath illuminated the issues of segregation and racial inequality in the military.
Activities
Topics
No entrance fee.
Hours
The Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial is located on Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO) and is an active base. Due to its location, tours are only available with reservations on a ranger-guided tour. Public access to the memorial is through a two-week advance reservation process and only on Thursdays, Fridays or Saturdays. Allow for 1.5 hours beginning at 12:30 PM. No access Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and during Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO) operations.
Conditions
Weather now: ☀️ Clear, 58°F
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☁️ 87°/55°
Things to do
Port Chicago Memorial Tour
Visitor centers
Temporary Port Chicago Visitor Center
Not an official safety source — always defer to NPS.gov and rangers for life-safety decisions.
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