For outdoor enthusiasts, history buffs, photographers and artists, the southern "original" hill and shoreline of Mare Island is an unique attraction. On behalf of the Mare Island Heritage Trust and Arc Ecology, I invite you to hike, bike, explore, paint, contemplate, picnic and participate in tours, outings and events during our monthly free Second Saturday Public Access Day. September 11, 2010 join us for our next 2nd Saturday with guided hikes, exhibits and an ice cream social in the afternoon.  The Preserve is open 9am-7pm. The Sierra Club-Solano Group guides the morning hike at 9:30am. Guided access is through arrangements with the U.S. Navy and the City of Vallejo.

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.

The Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve is a 215 acre parcel 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 now, the property has been 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. Although it still remains closed except for regular guided outings and tours given by local non-profit groups, planning is underway to open the first phase of the regional park that includes the oldest naval cemetery in the Pacific, founded in 1858 and the 98 acres leading to the hilltop vista point.

Our annual summer gathering at The Preserve, the Mare Faire, is took place Saturday, August 14, 2010. Here’s a link to our schedule. The weather was superb 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.

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.

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Myrna Hayes

Mare Island Heritage Trust