Discover Richmond

Richmond offers a range of ways to shape your stay: shipyard history, museums and exhibitions, as well as paths and waterfront areas along San Francisco Bay. You can tailor your trip to your interests and get to know Richmond from several perspectives.

Shipyard History on the Waterfront

The SS Red Oak Victory was built in the Richmond Shipyards and launched in November 1944. The museum ship is the last surviving vessel built in the Kaiser Shipyards. Visitors can explore the SS Red Oak Victory and learn from knowledgeable volunteer guides. Since tour arrangements may change, it’s worth checking the visitor information before planning your visit.

The Rosie the Riveter Visitor Education Center also introduces visitors to Richmond’s shipyard history. It is located in the historic Oil House, part of the Ford Assembly Building complex, and offers educational programs and interactive exhibits. Admission to the center and the films shown there is free. Check the latest visitor information before your visit.

At Marina Bay Park, the Rosie the Riveter Memorial commemorates the work in the shipyards with historical photographs, drawings, and recollections from shipyard workers. Its design evokes the prefabricated construction of a Liberty ship. Marina Bay Park was once at the heart of Kaiser Richmond Shipyard #2. The Lucretia Edwards Shoreline Park offers a broader view of the Bay Area’s shipyard landscape: it honors other shipyards in the region and features exhibits about their locations.

Museums and Stone Landmarks

The permanent exhibition at the Richmond Museum of History & Culture covers the Ohlone, Richmond’s early development, and the home front during World War II. The museum also presents seasonal exhibitions throughout the year. Since exhibition details may change, check the museum’s latest information before visiting.

Alvarado Park offers a different historical perspective. Its listing on the National Register of Historic Places recognizes its distinctive history and WPA stonework from the Great Depression era. Preserved features include stone walls, stone light poles, and a stone arch bridge over Wildcat Creek. These structures give the park a clearly recognizable architectural theme: visitors interested in historic design will find not just a single bridge, but several related stone landmarks.

Trails, Habitats, and Bay Shoreline

At Point Pinole Regional Shoreline, trails pass through windswept meadows with seasonal wildflowers and fragrant eucalyptus groves, and run along cliffs and beaches on San Pablo Bay. The trail network spans twelve miles. The landscape combines open meadows, woodland, and waterfront areas; its changing habitats are also of interest to nature lovers. More than 100 bird species are found there.

Richmond’s Wildcat Canyon Regional Park also offers a network of trails, along with expansive views of the surrounding area. Another way to combine history, wildlife, and scenery is the Marina Bay section of the San Francisco Bay Trail. The section is suitable for walking and cycling and runs along Richmond’s dynamic southeastern shoreline. Point Pinole and Wildcat Canyon represent different park landscapes; Marina Bay adds a stretch where visitors can explore the waterfront on foot or by bike.

Water Access and Getting There

At Keller Beach, visitors can wade and swim in San Francisco Bay. Keller Beach is also an official location on the San Francisco Bay Water Trail. Ferry Point is another official location on this water trail. At Ferry Point Beach, an ADA-accessible ramp extends to the high-tide line; kayakers can use it to launch their boats.

The Marina Bay Trail has a fee-based boat ramp and access for small watercraft. If you’re planning to use these facilities, check in advance whether they are available. For rail travel, Richmond’s downtown has a combined BART and Amtrak station. Since schedules may change, check your connection against the information for your travel date.

Explore more destinations: Lafayette, Bethel Island, Pinole, Orinda, Oakley, Pittsburg, Antioch, Rodeo.

Back to the main travel overview: Contra Costa.