Battleship Expo-Richmond UPDATE-GRAND OPENING 7/7 MVs WANTED

[John Neuenburg]

SCROLL DOWN THREAD FOR IMPORTANT UPDATE POSTED 6/30/12

Hot news - Battleship Expo at the Port of Richmond! Larry Pirack mentioned this in his November article and here are all the details. The USS Iowa will be on display weekends at Richmond Terminal 3 from a 12/10-11 Grand Opening into January except Christmas. The ship is on it's way from the mothball fleet to it's final destination in Southern Cal. She is in Richmond for blasting and exterior painting. The new owner, Pacific Battleship Center, is also creating a temporary museum in a terminal building which will feature battleship artifacts, "Plankholder" fundraising info, MVs from the Military Vehicle Technology Foundation, and a display by Alameda Naval Air Museum.

All MVs are invited for all open house weekends especially on 12/10-11 and also for the "soft" open house (trial run) which will be 12/3-4. Also note that on 12/7 there is a media announcement planned by the National Park Service at the fantail of Iowa about the Rosie the Riveter visitor center planned nearby. MVs are invited to this event. Remember that one of Ford's jeep plants and the Ford Tank Depot are down the street. Anybody want to organize a Ford display on the 10th? MV displays will be along a pedestrian lane between their temporary museum and the ship. Arrive by 9 a.m. on Saturdays or Sundays. You may store MVs and trailers inside the terminal building between open houses. Use the far south bay, door 1. Or leave your MV in the outdoor display area. This way you can commute to whatever open house you would like to support. Plus you get dry, secure storage through mid-January at least!

You do not need to RSVP for weekend displays however check here for updates. It is possible to RV/car camp at night however it cannot be inside their secure perimeter because they have to lock it after hours. So the only option is a parking lot to the south across from Craneway Pavilion and the Ford Building. NO PORTABLE TOILETS IN THIS AREA SO YOU MUST BE SELF-CONTAINED OR SHARE SOMEONE'S RV BATHROOM. Is anyone planning to bring an RV with operable toilet to share? If so I will pass the word. So anybody wanting to camp during any open house weekend should check with me about this situation. 415-306-3607 or email. Find this lot at the foot of Harbour Blvd. South. Enter the first lot, go straight then right. At the NW corner go up the ramp to the "upper lot." Park along the western fence overlooking the harbor. Very scenic area and probably the most remote in Richmond. Plus you can see the Red Oak Victory ship and the Iowa from there.

There will be an "enhanced" tour for those of us arriving Friday the 9th, at 3 pm. We might go to dinner at the Boilerhouse Restaurant and Bar which is in the Ford building, near the SE corner. See the sign on Harbour Blvd South and drive behind the massive building to their lot. Or walk from the camping area around the south (bay) side of the building. This by the way is the nearest available restroom to the camping lot, but they usually close at 10 pm unless there is a lot of business. See http://www.boilerhouserestaurant.com. There is a Days Inn not far, on Cutting Blvd near Pt. Richmond. More details and directions below by Tour Manager David Way, Pacific Battleship Center.

For recent photos by MVCCer George Paxinos, check out the Gee ship forum link here:
viewtopic.php?f=77&t=90020&p=1133640#p1133640

Battleship Expo at the Port of Richmond
USS IOWA BB 61
Pacific Battleship Center

Goal – Limited open house on the USS IOWA to the general public for six weekends or more. Exterior work on the Iowa only takes place on the weekdays (pressure blasting and repainting). Visitors would only be allowed on the bow section of the ship. Two brows will be at the bow section, meeting Coast Guard requirements. A donation of $10 for adults 18 and over, $5 for children 12 to 17, and 11 and under free. Parking provided on Terminal 3’s wharf with a restriped parking lot. An eating area will be created with tables and chairs, with food trucks present. Porte-potties will also be provided. Fire extinguishers, first aid kits and an AED kit will be on site.

A “mini” military museum will be located in the adjoining warehouse, using 12,700 square feet of space. Planned displays include armored vehicles, ship models, vintage cars, battleship projectiles, large banners with cut away illustrations of the Iowa’s interior and her history, and missile displays. IOWA merchandise and PBC “Plankowner” memberships will be on sale to the public. Other local museum groups may place their information on display as well.

Anticipated vehicles from Military Vehicle Technology Foundation (MVTF) – Littlefield Tank Museum;
M3A1 Scout Car
M2A1 Half-track
M16 Half-track
75mm Field Gun M1897A4
M551 Sheridan

Plus - Alameda Aviation Museum - antique Navy staff car with recruitment plates and 1940’s Navy Jeep.

Where - Port of Richmond Terminal 3 / 1411 Harbour Way South / Richmond, CA 94804

When – Each Saturday / Sunday, beginning with soft opening, December 3/4, Grand Opening 10/11, 17/18 - closed for Christmas weekend 24/25, open New Year’s Eve 31st - New Year’s Day January 1st, and January 8/9. (6 weekends). Future weekends TBD, depending on completion of work on Iowa.

Hours – PBC USS Iowa museum open from 10am to 5pm / last donation collected at 4pm.

Publicity – weekend event to be announced to local news through a press release.

Evening events
Possible concerts to be held in parking lot next to Iowa. TBD.

Driving Directions to Terminal 3 Port of Richmond;
From Sacramento:
• Take I-80 West
• Take the Cutting Blvd. exit
• Right on Cutting Blvd.
• Turn left on Harbour Way South
• Continue to 1411 Harbour Way South

From Marin:
• Take I-580 E across the Richmond Bridge
• Take the Cutting Blvd. exit to Harbour Way
• Continue on Hoffman Blvd.
• Turn right at Harbour Way South
• Continue to 1411 Harbour Way South

From San Francisco:
• Take the Bay Bridge towards Oakland
• Follow directions below

From the South:
• Take I-80 East
• Take I-580 W San Rafael-Richmond off ramp
• Take the Harbour Way South off ramp
• Right on Cutting Blvd.
• Right On Harbour Way South
• Continue to 1411 Harbour Way South

[John Neuenburg]

Big edit of original post - this is happening

[toadmanstankpictures]

For the MVTF's section, you can replace the Israeli M5 with M4A2(76)HVSS, if we get it running.

[John Neuenburg]

For the MVTF's section, you can replace the Israeli M5 with M4A2(76)HVSS, if we get it running.

Any Ford M4s available? With Ford's old tank plant in Richmond it would be nice to tie that together. I don't know if they have much interest to talk about the Ford connection to Richmond but a tank or a grouping of other Fords could carry some signage that visitors would find interesting. That's the point to the MVs in the museum anyway - extra military collectibles that will dress the place up. If I were the city or the NPS I'd take advantage of any Fords in the display. Contact Ford and invite a marketing person. Pitch them on sponsoring the Rosie the Riveter project. Maybe a "Ford in WW2" museum-could end up a part of it. Get a B-24 bomber deliverd too, hah hah. But seriously it would be really neat to have a GP, all the important GPWs, and a GPA in the museum for the duration with a sign talking about the jeep plant. Anybody interested?

[John Neuenburg]

Updated the post with RV/car-camping info.

[toadmanstankpictures]

For the MVTF's section, you can replace the Israeli M5 with M4A2(76)HVSS, if we get it running.

Any Ford M4s available? With Ford's old tank plant in Richmond it would be nice to tie that together.

Our Ford M4 is pretty ratty and isn't going anywhere soon.

[John Neuenburg]

Couple more edits including indoor camping and hotel, restaurant option. Updates may sneak into that post so check it out before you go.

Went over today to take a look. Here is the view from Harbour Blvd showing the building they are using for the mini-museum. Visitor parking between the ship and building and to the right. MV overnight parking is near the stern, indoor or outdoor.


View from the SS Red Oak Victory


They will paint her in Richmond over the next six weeks

[John Neuenburg]

Important update to camping situation. Read the original post for edits.

Note that the most of the ship will not be open to the public. Just the foredeck now, although our "enhanced tour" Friday the 9th at 3 pm (if we get anybody) should include upper decks and some peeks inside if they get shore power going by then. Could be future open houses will allow the public into other areas as they complete their work.

[Mac]

I see some rust there, get out the chipping hammers and red lead !!----------------Mac

[dilvoy]

Important update to camping situation. Read the original post for edits.

Note that the most of the ship will not be open to the public. Just the foredeck now, although our "enhanced tour" Friday the 9th at 3 pm (if we get anybody) should include upper decks and some peeks inside if they get shore power going by then. Could be future open houses will allow the public into other areas as they complete their work.

So do you think that they might show off Roosevelt's bath tub?

[Kurt Lesser]

George,

Any chance you can stop by for the tour on Friday?

Kurt

[dilvoy]

George,

Any chance you can stop by for the tour on Friday?

Kurt

I can be there on Friday the 9th at 3:00 PM if it that date is still happening. Please let me know.

[John Neuenburg]

Private tour is happening for us MVers Friday at 3 pm. It is not a public tour and not a public visitation day. You don't have to be there with MV for the weekend open house to go on the tour, but we hope folks who do this will support this series of open houses with a MV or militaria display (all types welcome) before they leave around Feb. 1.

I have news about how to get in the gate on Friday. Contact me at 415-306-3607 or email in_garage@hotmail.com

[John Neuenburg]

Very good article in the Benicia Herald linked below. If they get similar exposure in bigger media these open houses will be popular.

http://beniciaherald.wordpress.com/2011 ... more-14184

[dilvoy]

Great! I'll be there on Friday by around 2:00 with a friend or two.