Visiting Rosie The Riveter National Park Site

Posted on by obligatorytraveler@gmail.com

PLEASE NOTE, THIS POST MAY INCLUDE AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING THAT IF YOU CLICK ON A LINK AND MAKE A PURCHASE, I'LL RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISION. THIS WILL COME AT NO COST TO YOU.

The headband speaks out to me from my headband holder. Red with white polka dots. Do I dare? I only need an appropriate shirt and I could do it. Anticipation of visiting Rosie The Riveter National Park Site is high, but the feelings sky-rocket, when I realize for the very first time, I can National Park-bound.

Though people usually refer to this Park as The Rosie the Riveter National Park, the official title is, Rosie The Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park.

A Brief History of Rosie
My purpose on this site is to inform you what the experience is like visiting places. I’m not a history website (that’s what my audio tours are for). I want you to visit this park for yourself, so you can learn all of the information while there. That being said, a brief history of Rosie. Rosie the Riveter is not an actual person, but a cultural icon. Pre-World War II, women rarely worked outside of the home. If married, their job was to take care of house and family. Single women could work, but jobs were limited to teaching, domestic work, secretarial work, store clerks, or textile factory work. As more and more men went off to fight in the war, women were encouraged to step-up to work in factories.

The factories assembled essential war equipment. Rosie became a major job recruitment tool.
Women embraced their new roles and discovered they enjoyed having new, challenging, work. Rosie increased and expanded the idea of what it was/is to be a woman. Rosie continues to be an important symbol of female liberation today.

Visitors Center
Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park, is located in Richmond, California. Richmond is about a 25 minute drive from San Francisco.

Find a place to stay in San Francisco so you can visit The Rosie The Riveter National Park Site

Established in 2000, The Rosie the Riveter National Park Site, is housed in Richmond’s former, Ford Assembly Plant.
After securing our park stamp,

Park volunteer Marie, leads us on a tour. We walk outside, for a better view of the former shipyard and Ford Assembly Plant.

Rosie The Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park, occupies a small portion of the building. There is also a café, where you can grab a drink, snack, or eat lunch. A large, beautiful, glass windowed section, is now an indoor Pickleball court.

The same piece of information is repeated throughout the Rosie The Riveter National Park. The majority of women actually worked as welders, not riveters. Wendy the Welder, however, did not have the same lyrical alliteration, thus Rosie the Riveter, became the vital, women-in-the work place, marketing device. That being said, Rosie is the big draw for most park visitors, so Marie lets me try my hand at riveting.

The exhibit area is brimming with learning.

Though there is a lot of information about this time in women’s history, the park site, contains much more.

Richmond, California, was the site of Kaiser Shipyards. Kaiser Shipyards built more ships during World War II, than any other shipyard in The United States. The Rosie the Riveter National Park site, contains exhibits on shipbuilding, diversity (or lack of) of the workers, and general life in this industrial city during World War II.
Henry J. Kaiser introduced two important, innovative, concepts into the workplace. First, he started a childcare center for working mothers. Knowing that a healthy worker is a productive working, he provided employees with health insurance (for 50 cents a week), and set up facilities, for employees to receive regular medical care.

Like most National Park sites, there is a theater at Rosie the Riveter National Park. Instead of just one film, the site cycles through several. We are able to view three films during our visit.

Things to Do in Richmond, California

The Park Rangers and volunteers at Rosie the Riveter National Park, highly encourage us to take a tour of the nearby SS Red Oak Victory ship.

The SS Red Oak Victory, is one of the ships built at the Kaiser Shipyard. It is a restored, WW II ship, built by the Rosies. You can take a self-guided tour or a guided tour. We opt
for the guided tour. Visiting the SS Red Oak Victory is worth the time and minimal fee.

Click here to read all about our SS Red Oak Victory Ship Tour

Based on funding, the National Historical Park would like to expand. Currently you can view some of the
historic buildings from the outside. They include
-Kaiser Field Hospital
-Nystom Village
-Richmond Fire Station
-The First Aid Station

Other Richmond, California, History Sites

-The Maritime Children’s Development Center has an exhibit area that documents their essential work on advancing Early Childhood education.
-MacDonald Ave. is Richmond’s Main Street. The are historical markers along this downtown, that tell the story of what life was like during the heyday of the industrial city.
-Riggers Loft is the workshop building, important to Richmond’s shipyard history. It is now a winery, where you can enjoy a sip and a bite to eat.
-There is an abundance of parks and trails to explore.

We only have a day to spend in Richmond, California, so we miss out on visiting the other sites beyond the main National Park and SS Red Oak Victory ship.

Conclusion

Whether nature focused or history focused, National Park visits are inspiring. Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park, is galvanizing. It speaks of a pivotal time in United States history, when women were suddenly valued for their abilities and skills beyond their kitchens and laundry rooms.

Though much of the park focuses on Wendy and Rosie, a good portion focuses on World
War II overall. The park highlights people’s passion for problem solving. Their ingenuity for creating technology, systems to improve society, and a community that helps each other. If you are visiting California, in the San Francisco area, visiting this National Park site is a must.