Mare Island Naval Shipyard

The Mare Island Naval Shipyard is located on Mare Island, 25 miles northeast of San Francisco in Vallejo. It was the first U.S. States Naval shipyard on the west coast. The shipyard was used as a submarine port and to control shipbuilding efforts on the west coast during World War II. The base was closed in 1996, but is undergoing restoration of its buildings. It has been a National Historic Landmark since 1975 and is listed as a California State Landmark, as well as having several individual buildings on the National Registry of Historic Buildings. During World War I, the shipyard experienced a barge explosion that killed six people and destroyed part of the facilities. The explosion was caused by a roving German saboteur who was put into prison for his actions in 1918. During World War I and II, the shipyard saw its greatest amount of action. During World War II, the shipyard employed about 50,000 workers and worked on building, repairing, overhauling, and completing maintenance on submarines and surface vessels. The workers were able to raise nearly $76 million in war bond funds during World War II, which was enough to pay for all of the submarines built at the shipyard prior to VJ Day. The shipyard was responsible for the construction of more than 300 landing craft.