US Navy

U.S. Naval Magazine, Port Chicago

NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER-NH 96823

The Naval Magazine, Port Chicago was established in 1942 at Suisun Bay, California, as an ammunition trans-shipment facility. During the first part of World War II, it was rapidly built up to support the heavy explosives demands of the Pacific War. On 17 July 1944, Port Chicago was the scene of a massive ammunition detonation, which took the lives of over 300 persons, destroyed two cargo ships and wrecked or damaged structures at a considerable distance from the blast. Following this tragedy, Port Chicago was rapidly returned to service. It is now part of the U.S. Naval Weapons Station, Concord.