Richmond Shipyard Number Three

Shipyard Number Three occupies the tip of Potrero Point in Richmond, California, on roughly 140 acres bounded on three sides by San Francisco Bay. Ground was broken in January 1942, after about 2.2 million cubic yards of rock and earth were moved to level the point. It was one of four Kaiser shipyards in Richmond and is now the only substantially intact one. Surviving elements include five concrete basins, the General Warehouse, Machine Shop, Sheet Metal Shop, Forge Shop, Cafeteria and First Aid Station. The General Warehouse, a four-story Streamlined Moderne concrete building, was built in 120 days. Unlike the sloping ways of the other yards, the level basins eased hull assembly, and the yard's spacing supported prefabrication and straight-line production. Ships left the basins about 85 percent complete. Most other original buildings have been demolished. The yard was declared surplus in 1946 and remained a ship repair and storage facility, which is why it is recognized for advances in shipyard design and ship construction.