Mare Island Foundation

06/23/2026

Dear Friends of Mare Island,

Mare Island holds a rare place in American history. As the first U.S. Navy shipyard on the West Coast, it operated for more than 140 years and played a critical role in shipbuilding, naval innovation, and national defense. Preserving this history requires continuous care.

The Mare Island Historic Park Foundation is dedicated to maintaining historic structures, protecting artifacts, and ensuring future generations can experience and learn from Mare Island’s legacy. Membership support directly sustains:

• Preservation of historic buildings, including St. Peter’s Chapel
• Care and conservation of Navy artifacts and archives
• Educational programs and public tours
• Ongoing restoration efforts

Membership is a meaningful way to contribute to this work and stay connected to the story of Mare Island.

As a member, you receive:

• Invitations to member gatherings and programs
• Discounts on tours and Foundation events
• Updates on preservation projects
• The satisfaction of actively supporting Mare Island’s future

We also offer the Legacy Gift Membership Program, which is an opportunity to make a gift that endures beyond a single year. This option includes all benefits of our basic membership, plus a personalized gift card and certificate and a special uncirculated commemorative coin celebrating Mare Island’s history — making it a meaningful way to honor someone you care about while supporting preservation in the long term.

Please choose one of the options below:

Membership Options
• Annual Membership (starting at $25/year)
• Legacy Gift Membership Program — a thoughtful gift and lasting contribution

Your support helps ensure Mare Island’s history remains protected, maintained, and accessible.

Thank you for being part of this important stewardship.

Warm regards,
Mare Island Historic Park Foundation

Click here for an update from Mare Island Historic Park Foundation!

06/22/2026

Like a Rolling Stone… Beneath the Waves for More Than 80 Years

What do a legendary World War II submarine, a perfect 29-point cribbage hand, and generations of U.S. Navy submariners have in common? In 1943, aboard the Mare Island-built USS Wahoo (SS-238), Commander Dudley “Mush” Morton and Executive Officer Richard “Dick” O’Kane unknowingly launched one of the Navy’s most enduring traditions. From the deadly waters of the Yellow Sea to today’s nuclear-powered submarines, O’Kane’s famous cribbage board has traveled the oceans as a symbol of luck, courage, and submarine heritage. Discover the remarkable story of how a simple card game became a cherished naval tradition that continues to this day. Read the full story in our History Vault https://www.tumblr.com/mareislandfoundation/745215259168636928/like-a-rolling-stone.

06/17/2026

GROUP TOURS

For our visitors looking for a more personalized experience, we also offer private group tours customized to your interests. Whether you’re part of a hiking club, walking group, photography group, senior organization, homeschool community, or simply gathering friends together, we welcome groups of all kinds to explore Mare Island’s unique history. Discounted group rates and tailored tour experiences are available. To learn more or schedule a group tour, please contact Lynn Anderson ([email protected])

Click here for an update from Mare Island Historic Park Foundation!

06/15/2026

This episode of The Island Deep Dive explores the remarkable story of a dramatic moment in naval history when questions of accountability and fairness led to a high-profile court-martial at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, symbolizing the enduring tension between discipline and justice within the U.S. Navy. Framed through the powerful imagery of Lady Justice, the account reflects how even in a system built on order and authority, truth and responsibility must ultimately prevail, reinforcing the Navy’s commitment to integrity and the rule of law. If you enjoyed this video, see more information about this unforgettable moment in our History Vault at https://www.tumblr.com/mareislandfoundation/746226006190342144/lady-justice.

06/14/2026

Your Flag - Incidentally, the daughter of Francis Scott Key is buried in the Mare Island cemetery

Our nation’s flag, the beautiful emblem of our country, was born with the Flag Act which was passed by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777.

06/08/2026

Two stained glass windows hang in the oldest naval chapel in America at Mare Island — one a rare Tiffany glass, the other a biblical triptych. Both honor men whose lives were intertwined in ways that shaped the U.S. Navy from its very first days. One family produced five generations of admirals spanning the Barbary Wars, the Civil War, the first American submarine fleet, and a pilot who crashed a flying boat 220 miles short of Hawaii and sailed the wreckage 450 miles across the open Pacific to survive. The other man went to sea at nine, commanded a warship at twelve, survived one of the bloodiest naval battles of the War of 1812 at thirteen — and was nearly denied his promotion by the very family whose legacy he would one day complete. This is the story of the Rodgers Dynasty, Admiral Farragut, and the Mare Island flagpole that stood for 167 years as the oldest artifact of American sea power on the Pacific Coast. Full article in our History Vault https://www.tumblr.com/mareislandfoundation/818463953401364480/an-american-naval-dynasty

06/01/2026

This episode of The Island Deep Dive explores the remarkable story of when thousands gathered at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in 1908 to celebrate the launch of the giant collier USS Prometheus—a day of speeches, patriotic excitement, and what was supposed to be a grand public luncheon. But within hours, hundreds of guests became violently ill in one of California’s most shocking mass food-poisoning outbreaks of the era, triggering investigations, quarantines, and statewide headlines. If you enjoyed this video, discover more about this unforgettable moment in our History Vault: https://www.tumblr.com/mareislandfoundation/744598558983028736/poisoned-celebration

05/28/2026

Join us for an afternoon of live jazz inside the historic St. Peter’s Chapel on Mare Island. Local ensemble Good Karma brings together jazz and funk originals with modern and classic standards for a performance that is both relaxing and uplifting.

Their repertoire spans generations and styles — from Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk to Antonio Carlos Jobim and Herbie Hancock — alongside original compositions inspired by these jazz greats.

Surrounded by the stunning Tiffany stained glass windows of St. Peter’s Chapel, guests will experience live music in one of Mare Island’s most unique historic spaces. Doors open early so visitors can explore the chapel interior before the performance begins.

Sunday, June 28, 2026
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Doors Open at 2:30 PM

St. Peter’s Chapel
1181 Walnut Ave
Vallejo, CA 94592

Tickets
$20 General Admission (Advance)
$25 General Admission (At the Door)
$18 Members

No physical tickets will be issued. Check-in will be by name at the door.

ADA NOTICE: St. Peter’s Chapel is a contributing element of the Mare Island Historic District and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic Landmark (NRIS Number: 75002103). Due to its historic significance, the building is not wheelchair accessible (28 C.F.R. 35.150(A)(2)).

For additional information, please visit MIHPF.org.

Click here for an update from Mare Island Historic Park Foundation!

05/27/2026

At the Mare Island Historic Park Foundation, we’re always looking for new ways to preserve and share the stories of Mare Island with broader audiences. From narrated historical tours and oral histories to accessible educational materials and multilingual interpretation, audio storytelling has the power to bring history to life in a more immersive and inclusive way.

We’re excited about the possibilities of using AI voice technology to help preserve the voices, stories, and legacy connected to Mare Island’s historic spaces like St. Peter’s Chapel and beyond.