Kaiser Richmond Shipyards (Rosie the Riveter)
Kaiser (historic), Richmond, California
Henry J. Kaiser's four Richmond shipyards on San Francisco Bay built 747 ships during World War II, including 519 Liberty ships and 142 Victory ships. The yards hired large numbers of women, African Americans and migrants from other states, the workforce remembered as Rosie the Riveter. Shipyard No. 3 survives as part of the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park.
- Company
- Kaiser (historic)
- Status
- Closed
- Opened
- 1941
- Employees
- Not stated
- Industry
- Aerospace and defense
- Revised
- November 12, 2026
What is made here
World War II cargo and naval ships, chiefly Liberty and Victory ships, built across four Kaiser shipyards.
Facts
| Ships built | The four Richmond shipyards built 747 ships during World War II: 519 Liberty ships (about 20% of the nation's total), 142 Victory ships and other vessels including tank landing ships, frigates and troop transports (federal: nps.gov) |
|---|---|
| Construction | Construction of Shipyard No. 1 began January 14, 1941; No. 2 followed in April 1941 and Nos. 3 and 4 in 1942 (federal: nps.gov) |
| Workforce | The shipyards recruited women, African Americans and out-of-state workers, opening jobs that had been closed to them (federal: nps.gov) |
| Shipyard No. 3 today | At Potrero Point, its general warehouse and five ship slips survive as part of the national historical park; the SS Red Oak Victory and a Whirley crane are at the yard (federal: nps.gov) |
Figures are as stated by the source named next to each one. Company figures are the company's own claims.
Can you visit?
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park visitor center; SS Red Oak Victory can be visited; Shipyard No. 3 itself was closed to the public as of the NPS page (nps.gov) Check the operator's site before you go.
Sources
- NPS: Historic Richmond Shipyards (federal, checked November 12, 2026)
- NPS: Richmond Shipyard Number Three (federal, checked November 12, 2026)
- NPS: Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front NHP (federal, checked November 12, 2026)
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