Mare Island Naval Shipyard

Mare Island Naval Shipyard - National Historic Landmark

The History:

The Mare Island Naval Shipyard (MINSY) was the first United States Navy base established on the Pacific Ocean.^[4] It is located 25 miles northeast of San Francisco in Vallejo,California. The Napa River goes through the Mare Island Strait and separates the peninsula shipyard (Mare Island, California) from the main portion of the city of Vallejo. MINSY made a name for itself as the premier US West Coast submarine port as well as serving as the controlling force in San Francisco Bay Area shipbuilding efforts during World War II.^[5] The base closed in 1996 and has gone through several redevelopment phases. It was registered as a California Historical Landmark in 1960,^[2] and parts of it were declared a National Historic Landmark District in 1975.^[3]

The Navy purchased the original 956 acres (387 ha) of MINSY in 1853 and commenced shipbuilding operations on September 16, 1854 under the command of then-CommanderDavid Farragut, who would later gain fame during the U.S. Civil War Battle of Mobile Bay, when he gave the order, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" MINSY served as a major Pacific Ocean repair station during the late 19th century, handling American as well as Japanese and Russian vessels in the course of duty.

During World War II, base facilities included a hospital, ammunition depot, paint and rubber testing laboratories, and schools for firefighters, opticians, and anti-submarine attack during World War II.^[12]   MINSY reached peak capacity for shipbuilding, repair, overhaul, and maintenance of many different kinds of seagoing vessels including both surface combatants and submarines. Up to 50,000 workers were employed.^[13] Mare Island even received Royal Navy cruisers and destroyers and four Soviet Navy subs for service.^[5] Following the War, MINSY was considered to be one of the primary stations for construction and maintenance of the Navy's Pacific fleet of submarines, having built seventeen submarines and four submarine tenders by the end of hostilities.

[Ref:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mare_Island_Naval_Shipyard]

Today, the Mare Island Navy Shipyard is mainly abandoned and its old buildings, cranes and ship dock structures offer a beautiful subject for photography.  However, my first visit on Mare Island a while ago during daytime was a bit disappointing since I mainly saw the grim and blight.  But, yesterday I had the opportunity to join a group of nocturnal photographers who knew where to find interesting corners.  Under the illumination of a full moon, the remnants of a foregone time became alive.

But see for yourself:

Til next time,

Meggi

PS.:  I'd love to hear your comments, pl email me at mraeder33@gmail.com