Richmond's waterfront was one of the busiest places in wartime America. The four Richmond shipyards, with 27 shipways between them, produced 747 ships, more than any other shipyard complex in the country.
A city remade
Richmond grew nearly overnight from about 24,000 residents to 100,000. The shipyards, a tank factory, child care centers and housing such as Atchison Village were built for workers, many of them women and African Americans. The park explores their role in war industries.
A partnership park
Congress designated the park on Oct. 25, 2000. The National Park Service owns none of its land or buildings. It administers a network of sites in partnership with others, including the Rosie the Riveter Memorial at Marina Bay Park, Kaiser Shipyard No. 3, the Victory ship SS Red Oak Victory, and the Ford Assembly Building, home of the Visitor Education Center.
Visiting
The NPS says the waterfront Visitor Education Center is the place to start, and more than 20 historic places can be seen on drive-by or self-guided app tours. On most "Rosie Fridays," visitors can meet real Home Front workers. The park also honors Betty Reid Soskin, the longtime ranger. Call the visitor center for hours and schedules.