It was a nice experience - the breakfast pancake - on Mother's Day. It wasn't feasible for someone with mobility issues since the weather was cold and windy the meal was eaten below deck. It would have been nicer if we got to stay above deck and experience fresh air. The ship was also excellent to walk through but would have liked to see more details provided. Seems like the only way to get more detailed information is with a tour but with younger kids they're not allowed to follow the tours. My kids enjoyed the experience and it was nice to discover touristy activities close to home that's affordable. read more

This ship was used as a cargo ship during WWII, Vietnam and Korean Wars. It was built in Richmond, CA and is now located at the same shipyard where it was built. There are guided (takes you to the engine room) and self-guided tours; both are educational. The ship is managed by the Richmond Museum of History and the loving caretakers are volunteers. There is a small gift shop and theatre. Their existence is based on donations, pancake breakfasts, movie/hall rentals, and gift shop. The ship is not suited to persons with limited mobility. You have to walk up this steep, shaky steel ladder to get on board. Once on board, you have to walk up narrow stairs to go up and down floors. The engine room's ladder to go down was very steep. You couldn't see the rung of the next step. If you have a phobia, this is not for you. Just avoid the engine room. Aside from that, the ship was interesting and if you are a WWII history buff, this ship is worth seeing. read more

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I always walk around pt Richmond area being a Richmond native myself. But this is my first time on this ship, it was a spur of the moment thing on a Sunday while walking around the area. I'm glad I came on. It was a great start to 2025. Although the outside is rusting and really aging, the interior of the ship, the rooms are pretty much well kept. You can take your time to explore and read things on the self guided tour which me and my friend did. The inside of the ship is surprisingly very lively. There's a store, a dance room, and lots of the employees in their offices. It was a pleasant surprise. Apparently they have many things going on this ship like pancake days and other events. I would highly recommend keeping an eye constantly on your kids if they are crazy and like to run around a lot as this is not the place to be running around wildly. You can literally open any doors that's not locked and some leads to a dark area with pits that you can't see the bottom of. The railing on the higher levels have huge gaps that a kid can easily pass through if they rolled over and the fall (especially the last two upper deck levels) is guaranteed fatal. I focused more on exploring so didn't take much pictures. It is very likely I will be back on this ship again. read more

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My husband and I attended the 2023 Mother's Day Pancake breakfast. There was a band that played as you waited in line for breakfast. The scrambled eggs, two pancakes, two sausages, two strips of streaky bacon were served freshly prepared. The portions were just right, not too much. Maple syrup was on the table, coffee, tea and water available on deck. For an additional charge you could order a mimosa, but we passed. Tables were set up on deck so you could eat outside, and tables below deck if you wanted to be out of the wind. It seemed more people were interested in sitting outside even though it was a bit windy. After eating we walked around the ship, climbed up and down - a good way to digest breakfast! If you missed their Mother's Day event, not to worry, they have a Father's Day breakfast coming up on June 18. If anything, it's a fun way to celebrate by having breakfast on the waterside and exploring the ship. read more

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SS Red Oak Victory ship is an great visit when you have a free Sunday (currently only open on Sundays) or a visitor in town who's a history buff. Tie this together with a visit to the Rosie the Riveter Visitors Center, grab lunch or dinner at a local restaurant along the Bay and you've created a memorable day! Back to the SS Red Oak...it's run by all volunteers who are loving caretakers of the ship and it's history. Sign up (email) for a tour, or ask if you just show up if there's a docent available. The Engine tour is amazing. Apparently the pancake breakfasts are super popular and sell out fast! The gift shop is another little fun experience by itself with cool, historically significant items for adults and kids. It was a great local viewing spot to watch the Blue Angels this year. But even without the Blue Angels, there are some of the best views of the Bay from the ship's deck! I can't understand why everyone doesn't know about this gem! read more

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Family friendly fun that will last you about 2 hours!! Go tour the amazing SS Red Oak Victory WWII ship, one of ten Victory ships that served as an ammunition carrier for the Navy. She was built there at the Kaiser Richmond Shipyards. This is a self guided tour. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sundays from 10am to 3pm. Free parking. You'll be stepping up and over the ships doorways and climbing ladders (if you wish) so strollers are not a good idea. Also the passageways are small/tight. This is a fun tour for just about anyone that loves ships, history and adventure! You get to visit the gun platform that has an emergency steering station, cabin deck, the ships small door sized library, main deck, bridge deck, see the original propeller, galley, flying bridge deck and the wheel house which has been fully restored and you can listen to current radio talk, from Coast Guard I believe...and I'm sure I missed a few other places. It's just fun to visualize how this ship was back on January 10, 1945 when she left SF bay for Pearl Harbor. Lots to read and lots of pictures to look at throughout the tour. The ships wooden hailing boards identify the ship on the sides of the cabin deck. This is in Point Richmond, it can get very windy, have a light jacket handy. Beautiful bay picture opportunities. read more

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LameOs.... We came on Sunday the 28th to introduce my little 5 year old nephew to the ship. Without announcing so on their website, they closed down for dry dock for at least a week's time. Disappointed and quite lame that they would not update on the computer, *especially* because it's quite a curvy, out-of-the-way drive to their parking lot by the water's edge. Call before going! read more

Any boat geeks out there? My hubby totally loves boats so we had to go. My friend found out they are open Saturdays from 10am-3pm so we got to check it out. First time cuz didn't even know before that you can go on it! From their website: "Launched on November 9, 1944 as the SS Red Oak Victory, and commissioned as the USS Red Oak Victory (AK235) in December, 1944, the Red Oak Victory is the only vessel built by the Kaiser Shipyards in Richmond, California that is being restored. The ship saw service in World War II, Korea and Vietnam and has the distinction of being the only ship operated by both military and civilian personnel during her career. In 1996, by an Act of Congress, title to the SS Red Oak Victory was conveyed to the Richmond Museum Association. One of the primary goals of the museum is to preserve, restore and develop the Red Oak into a viable asset that can be used, enjoyed and appreciated by the citizens of Richmond and the surrounding Bay Area communities. " Donations are: $5 adults, $4 seniors, $2 children under 5. you can see tons of stuff in & on the boat. Engine room, Captain room, under the boats. We happen to bump into a older guy and he took us on a private tour (you may see him if you go). He even opened up the gift shop and my geeky hubby bought 2 hats. Worth going if you love huge, cargo warship! Hrs: Sat, Sun, Tues & Thurs. 10-3 Website: http://www.ssredoakvictory.com/index.htm read more

Yes, it can be tricky to locate along the Richmond docks and shore. Yes, there are very limited hours (Tue, Thu and Sat-Sun 10 AM-3 PM) onboard the SS Red Oak Victory, and there's no guarantee they will even be open that day because it depends on the number of available volunteers and docents, who are mostly seniors and/or war veterans. Very nice interior and I like how they were able to clean and restore the whole exterior and interior. You don't have to go on the guided tour if you don't want to or simply don't have enough time for the day. It's $5 for admission. Only confusing things were the lack of signage especially when it came to purchasing a pancake breakfast versus paying for admission. read more

So have you been on the Liberty class ship SS Jeremiah O'Brien in San Francisco? Well might I suggest that you round out your knowledge of cargo/munition ships by visiting a Victory class ship. One note about this ship, part of her history after her Navy stint was with the U.S. Maritime Commission. so one will see changes/upgrades made since. Plans are underway so that she may soon ply the waters of SF Bay via her steam compound turbine engine. She offers Pancake Breakfasts events six times a year, and the showing of classic films Apr. thru May. Take the docent tour and you'll discover much more than you thought you knew. To get a better idea of Richmond's hive of ship building activity, might I suggest watching the youtube dated clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8RszOQwWGY read more

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Today we took the kids to the monthly pancake breakfast at the SS Red Oak Victory, berthed at the Port of Richmond. We had never been before and had only the vaguest idea it was even there until I picked up a flyer somewhere for the event. You get a scenic (I'm not being sarcastic here - it really is, if you and your kids have any interest in boats/cars/trains/trucks) tour of the Port of Richmond. There's also a staging area to bike out there - unfortunately this is on the other side of a gap in the Bay Trail from Berkeley - for intrepid cyclists who don't mind busy city streets, it's doable. Volunteers cook up a hearty plate of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, and bonus apple slices (classy touch). Juice, "coffee", tea, and water to drink. Only $7 per person, and kids under 5 are free. After eating, you get to tour the ship - a 1944 cargo vessel - on your own, but there's lots of volunteers around to answer questions. You can also buy a guided tour if your kids are old enough to do that. (Mine are so not.) It's fun to explore all the levels and little tiny rooms - including the head! - at your own pace. Perhaps needless to say, this ship is not childproofed. What's the opposite of childproofed? Because that's pretty much what it is. However, if you are prepared to CLOSELY supervise your kids, and/or you have older kids who can be trusted not to hurl themselves over the side or miss a step on the many ladders between decks, do not miss it. We'll definitely be back next season. You can also go explore the vessel without pancakes - I guess that is a valid choice for the pancake-phobes. Check their website for the schedule. read more

A great place to spend a few hours and enjoy the fantastic bay views from the deck of this historic restored Victory Ship from late WWII. Sunday pancake breakfasts are held once a month and are really great. You won't leave hungry. They start up in April and last through October. Deck seating so you can enjoy the view. The self-guided tour allows you to enjoy the ship at your own pace. The ship is continually being upgraded and restored and you can see the volunteers at work on various projects. The last step of the restoration project is to have the Red Oak operational on San Francisco Bay. There is wine-tasting nearby, the Rosie the Riveter museum to explore not too far away, and several bike-paths and hiking options in the area. Bring comfortable walking shoes as you can explore several decks that will require that you ascend and descend various ship ladders. One level down from the main deck is the museum and gift shop, and definitely worth a visit. read more

The SS Red Oak Victory was built in 1944 and used in World War II. It was used as both an ammunition and merchant ship. In 1998, the SS Red Oak Victory was headed to the scrap yards, yet instead, the Richmond History Museum bought the ship for $1. It was actually built and now resides in the Richmond shipyards. You can visit and have a docent led tour for around $15-$20 a person (there was a little confusion between staff regarding the correct price. We just paid the overage and considered it a donation!) Our docent really was wonderful and very thorough. We also seemed to have the ship to ourselves! The tour took about 2 hours. Two things we found interesting: 1) Many of the doors are wood doors (you rarely see this in war ships.) 2) The captain had a 24 hour clock! It seems kind of genius to me. However, the cost to have it repaired is about $1000...so they said, "No, thank you!" and will enjoy it in non-functioning form once it runs down. Bonus Tips: Although not often, you can sometimes catch free tickets through your local library's Discover & Go pass. It's certainly worth checking in advance. Want to make a day of it? Stop for a drink next door at Carica Wines at Riggers Loft. read more

The SS Red Oak Victory is part of the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park. Of the over one hundred National Parks, National Monuments, and National Historic Sites that I've visited, this was probably the worst. There was not much to see on the ship, the features were poorly described, the staff was unpleasant, and visitors were irresponsibly managed. I'm embarrassed that foreign tourists can come here to enjoy our national park system and have a poor experience like we did. The National Park Service should either require improvements or disassociate from the Red Oak until upgrades are made. The National Park Service's Interagency Annual Pass is not accepted for payment because the Red Oak is not operated by the National Park Service, but a non-profit organization. The self-guided tour pamphlet was hard-to-follow. We couldn't find the museum, gift shop, and theater marked on the separate emergency procedure pamphlet. The printed materials suggested access to the entire deck due to "muster" safety stations at the forward deck holds, but we were treated rudely when going to this part of the ship because we didn't see a sign that had blown over. How were we to know the difference between a blown over sign or a sign that was moved aside? Regardless, an insult was unnecessary as a staff member said, "You'd be blind not to see it." We probably could have found more parts of the ship, but after being offended, I wasn't about to wander into other areas of the ship that might be unclearly forbidden. We were asked to sign-in. We thought this was like other museums where they like to see who was visiting. It's really a security log where you are required to sign-in and then sign-out. We didn't sign-out so we were admonished by a different person. A gangway platform was under construction. The work area wasn't blocked off. Obviously, we didn't need a sign saying to stay away because (despite what was suggested earlier) we're not blind, but shouldn't a construction zone be roped-off or at least marked? There was also no warning to "watch your step" through the hatches. This place is a lawsuit waiting to happen. The NPS setup a walking tour with occasional informational stations around the Kaiser Shipyard #3 where the Red Oak is berthed. The walking tour was more educational than being on the ship. My advice is to skip the Red Oak, visit the properly run Rosie the Riveter visitor center (see https://www.yelp.com/biz/rosie-the-riveter-visitor-education-center-richmond), and head to San Francisco to see the superior Victory ship, the SS Jeremiah O'Brien at Fisherman's Wharf (see https://www.yelp.com/biz/ss-jeremiah-o-brien-san-francisco-2) which is loaded with exhibits and has access to the cargo holds, the entire deck, and engine room. read more

I was trying to think of something to do while my dad was in town, and I knew there were a few historical sites on the waterfront in Richmond. So glad I googled it and found the SS Red Oak Victory! Had a fabulous tour with the docent, and we paid the extra $5 to get into the engine room and so glad we did! The engine room is a really cool adventure that brought us all back in time (just make sure you are able bodied and can walk down and up very steep stairs). We had a blast, dad was happy, and the docent was seriously knowledgeable about the history and workings of the ship. Then we headed over to the Ford Building and Rosie the Riveter historical park. Those help put the SS Red Oak Victory in a broader perspective of the time, so I recommend doing both. Worth a visit for sure, especially for those who enjoy a walk back in time. read more

Last night we went to the Fourth of July Eve Celebration on the SS Red Oak Victory ship. It was a "blast"! The bbq dinner was delicious, the live jazz music was great and the wine & beer were all winners. Everyone was having a great time. Casual with a small-town vibe. And to top it off, the fireworks were terrific and easily seen from the ship. They're launched nearby from the Marina Bay Park. The ship is a museum, too. Loved everything about our evening! I'm looking forward to the pancake breakfasts they have on board. read more

I love the location and the Red Oak is huge, it will take you back to another era just to walk around its dock...the view is beautiful in every direction. It was fairly cold and windy but this is the kind of place where you escape the Bay area and can relax on a bench with a good lunch and a glass of wine. I will come back. read more

Located at the very end of the old Kaiser Shipyard 3, the Red Oak is a Victory class merchant marine freighter and ammo WW2 carrier which was built after the older and slower Liberty ships were phased out. The docents give tours all the time, and the tours actually take awhile. One thing to remember here is that the ship closes and the tours end at 3 PM. Story boards in the outer parking lot tell the the sad story of why this Victory ship was named after Red Oak, Iowa. read more

The Pancake Breakfast In The Red Oak Victory Is Worth Going To You Get A Nice Meal With Great Scenic View And To Tour The Boat For A Great Deal, Kids Will Love It. read more

As of July 11th, 2012, Corky Booze's decision to charge the S.S. Red Oak Victory was not supported by the city of Richmond's city council: http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_21049932/richmond-council-rejects-idea-charging-rent-wwii-vessel Up yours Corky!! She's here to stay! read more

My 12-year-old grandson and I went on a tour of the Red Oak Victory Ship on the day after Labor Day, Tuesday, September 4th, and we had a GREAT time. It is a fantastic floating museum! We spent four-and-one-half hour touring the ship,and all of the volunteers did a fabulous job of explaining everything. Two very knowledgeable volunteers gave us a grand tor of the radio room. Our tour was partially a self-guided tour, but mostly a guided tour. We even got the overhead view into the engine room; it's enormous! Speaking of enormous, be sure to see the propeller displayed on the top deck at the aft end (Bay end) of the ship. read more

I got to take a guided tour of the ship and it was phenomenal!! This is a World War II ship, built locally in the Richmond Shipyard. In 1998 the ship was about to be turned into scrap metal when it was rescued and restored. It is the very last remaining ship built there remaining intact, and has been turned into a floating museum. The restoration and repairs have continued all along, and as of this August, the ship's engine was started up for the first time in 50 years! The ship is just chock full of cool stuff--1940s era furniture and bunks, WWII era instruments and machinery (some of which you can actually try out!). Great way to see living history and have fun--I would recommend to anyone who is interested in US history or the '40s era or ships! read more

Not all spit shined like some WW2 museums stuff but a great thing to sea. The tour guide knew what he was talking about and spent time on interesting things and glossed over the not so interesting. Make sure you get somebody to take you down to the engine room if you go. It is a very impressive sight. I can't imagine being down there when she was plowing through the pacific. read more

preatty cool piece of richmond history i love history and i have been on the red oak a few times it was build in the keiser ship yards in richmond ca in 1944 and this boat is one of the last that was build here to survive it's a cool boat to tour it's usually open on week ends till about 3:00pm so if your in the area check it out it's cool if you take the family ..... read more

SS Red Oak Victory - red oak victory richmond ca - Museums Near Me - Richmond, California

We had a great tour for over 2 hours. So much history of WWII and Richmond on this ship. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. We saw everything and had plenty of hands on experience. Check out the memorial for Rosie the Riveter after. It's not far from the Red Oak. read more

We've been here twice for the $7 pancake breakfast. It's great! You get scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, a stack of hotcakes, a piece of fruit, and coffee. After breakfast you can roam the ship or pay a few bucks for a docent tour. Every dollar you spend goes to support the ship. Check the website to find out when the breakfasts are offered. Be sure to thank the workers, they're all volunteers. read more

nice boat. great access in parts. they let you wonder into just about anywhere except the engine room, bummer. 10 bucks to a good cause.

I agree with the other reviews - great place. And in October, there is a fulll scale musical onboard that is the story of Rosie the Riveter and the homefront soldiers in the Kaiser Shipyards. Fantastic show called RIVETS, plays fr-su, galateanplayers.com is where to get tickets. read more

This ship, this place is so historic! I found the Wapama, and the usssIwa while inb this area! Good winds and a folowing seas to ya mate!