Drydock 4 Hunters Point Naval Shipyard
Why it's listed
Drydock 4 is a massive reinforced-concrete graving dock on the San Francisco Bay shoreline at Hunters Point, completed in June 1943. Measuring 1,096 feet long, 171 feet wide and 53 feet deep, it was the largest drydock on the Pacific Coast when finished and could service any vessel in the fleet. Its construction took about ten months and required leveling a 200-foot hill, Point Avisadero, and removing 560,000 cubic yards of rock. Pacific Bridge Company was the main contractor, working with soil engineer Charles H. Lee and the firm Dames & Moore. During World War II the dock repaired battle-damaged ships, including the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid three times, and in 1945 helped load components of the atomic bombs carried by the USS Indianapolis. Pump rooms, capstans, bollards, cleats and crane tracks survive. It was listed for its military importance and for its role as an example of rapid wartime engineering, with a period of significance of 1942 to 1945.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is nationally significant under Criterion A as the largest West Coast drydock, a key World War II facility for repairing Pacific Fleet ships. It is also significant under Criterion C as an example of wartime maritime engineering, built in about ten months after a 200-foot hill was leveled and 560,000 cubic yards of rock removed.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 12000424, listed July 25, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SE. of jct. of Spear Ave. & Morrell St., San Francisco |
|---|---|
| County | San Francisco |
| Listed | July 25, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000424 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1942-1945 |
| Architect / builder | Pacific Bridge Company; Lee, Charles H.; Dames & Moore; Piombo Brothers and Basalt Rock Company |
| Architectural style | Other: utilitarian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military, Engineering |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as non-operational; the drydock is presently inundated and retains a high degree of integrity despite several alterations. |
| Acreage | 3.3 |
| Coordinates | 37.72463, -122.36384 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 12000424.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133464852
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.