What Are the Dry Dock and Submarine Sail on Mare Island?

Two objects on the Mare Island waterfront can be puzzling the first time you see them. One looks like a giant stepped basin. The other resembles the top of a submarine sitting on land. Together they tell you what this Vallejo shipyard was built to do and who remembers the work.

What was Dry Dock No. 1 used for?

A dry dock let crews work on parts of a ship normally hidden underwater. They brought the ship into the flooded basin, closed off the entrance and pumped out the water, leaving the hull supported on blocks. The historic survey records a length of 508 feet. Picture a ship extending down that long axis and the size of the surrounding workshops begins to make sense.

What details should I look for in the granite walls?

From the public side of the waterfront, follow a horizontal row of stone around the basin with your eyes. Then look for the narrower lines running down the sides. The dock includes both stone stairways and channels for water. The National Park Service survey includes historical photographs, handy if the dock’s condition or your viewing angle obscures a detail on the day.

Is there a whole submarine on the Mare Island waterfront?

The memorial preserves the sail of USS Vallejo, the tall structure that once projected above the submarine’s hull. The Mare Island Historic Park Foundation helped restore and install it in the historic core in 2019. Stand far enough back to take in its silhouette before reading the memorial. It is much easier to imagine its original setting when you can see the whole shape.

Where can I walk next to see another side of the shipyard?

Turn inland toward Alden Park, Officers’ Row and St. Peter’s Chapel. The houses and the chapel give a sense of the community that lived alongside the industrial yard. If the chapel’s Tiffany glass is the reason for your visit, check the Historic Park Foundation’s tour arrangements before setting out. The exterior and the homes make a worthwhile walk of their own.