For outdoor enthusiasts, history buffs, photographers and artists, the southern "original" Mare Island Hill and Historic Shoreline is an unique parkland. On behalf of the Mare Island Heritage Trust, I invite you to hike, bike, explore, paint, contemplate, picnic and participate in tours, outings and events at the Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve. Visit the Preserve open Friday through Sunday and holidays 10:00am-to one hour following sunset.

The Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve is a 215-acre park located at the south end of Mare Island on land that formerly served as the U.S. Navy's first Naval Ammunition Depot, founded in 1857. Until we opened it for regularly scheduled access in April 2008, the land was off-limits to the public due to past sensitive Navy munitions production and storage operations and more recent environmental cleanup.

The property was granted by the California Legislature through the State Lands Commission to the City of Vallejo for development as a historic and nature focused park for all Californians in 2002. As an all volunteer group we are committed to providing for regular public use of the first phase of the regional park that includes the oldest naval cemetery in the Pacific, founded in 1858 and the 130 acres leading to the hilltop vista point. Access is through arrangements with the U.S. Navy and the City of Vallejo.

On December 20th we held a party at our Visitors Center to watch the full Lunar Eclipse and Winter Solstice Party. Visit our blog entry about the mystical evening. 

Our annual summer gathering at the Preserve, the Mare Faire, took place Saturday, August 14, 2010.The weather was superb in 2010 and more than 500 people came out to join in our guided outings, learn about the Preserve’s incredible natural and scenic treasures and grab a bite to eat for the trail. Thanks to the U.S. Forest Service and Woodsy the Owl for joining us this year and to the U.S. Navy for their great displays about the environmental cleanup on the island as well as munitions safety information.

On July 31 we hosted two Laborfest 2010 free tours. Click to a slide show of the Laboring for the Navy tour. Click to the Port Chicago Mutiny tour slideshow. We repeated these tours with great success again this year.

We appreciated the National Park Service who joined us from Rosie the Riveter WWII Homefront National Historic Park and the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial Park for helping us to commemorate the 66th anniversary of the Port Chicago Mutiny, an important event in American history which took place in Vallejo just across the Strait while the men were under the command of the Mare Island Naval Ammunition Depot. We invite you to view Sue Wilson’s 3-part series featuring the 65th Anniversary Commemoration we held at Mare Island in 2009 on Youtube. [Click here Part 1; Click here Part 2; and here for Part 3]

It takes a host of individuals, non-profit groups, agencies, local and regional businesses, corporations and foundations working together to realize the reuse of abandoned military property like this site as parkland. Click here to meet the people and supporters who are working in a true labor of love to make our dream of a park of regional, state and national importance, a reality–sooner than later.

To subscribe to our e-newsletter, email us or call 707-249-9633.

Myrna Hayes

Mare Island Heritage Trust