Oakland Army Base facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oakland Army Base |
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|---|---|
| Oakland, California in United States of America | |
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| Coordinates | 37°49′00″N 122°18′02″W / 37.81667°N 122.30056°W |
| Type | Army Base |
| Site information | |
| Operator | United States Army |
| Open to the public |
No |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1941 |
| In use | 1941–1999 |
| Fate | decommissioned |
The Oakland Army Base was a very important military base for the United States Army. It was located in Oakland, California, right by the Port of Oakland. This base played a huge role in moving supplies and soldiers during major wars.
It was built in 1941 as part of a bigger port system. At first, it was called the Oakland Sub-Port. In 1944, it got its more famous name, the Oakland Army Base. During World War II, the base handled over 8.5 million tons of supplies! It also moved 7.2 million tons of cargo during the Korean War.
In 1946, the base grew bigger. It took over an area known as Camp John T. Knight. This camp was named after a brave general from World War I. The base changed its name a few times over the years. In 1964, it became the main headquarters for Army transportation in the Pacific.
During the Vietnam War, the Oakland Army Base was a key stop. Thousands of U.S. soldiers passed through it. They went to places like Vietnam and Korea, and returned home through this base. The base officially closed down on September 30, 1999.
Historians at The Bancroft Library in California have collected many stories about the base. They talked to people who worked there from 1941 until it closed. This helps us understand its history better.
What Happened to the Oakland Army Base?
After the base closed, the city of Oakland made big plans for the area. They wanted to turn it into a modern shipping and storage center. This project was expected to cost a lot of money, about US$1 billion.
The state of California helped by setting aside US$240 million for the project. This money would help build new warehouses and improve the port. The goal was to make the area a busy hub for goods moving in and out of the Port of Oakland.
In 2008, the city started looking for companies to help with the redevelopment. Many companies were interested. Eventually, a group called California Capital and Investment Group (CCIG) and Prologis were chosen. They worked together to plan the new site.
The first part of the project started in 2013. It cost about US$484 million. A big part of that money was for public improvements. These included new roads and better connections for trains and ships.
On October 21, 2020, a new park opened on part of the old base. It's called the Judge John Sutter Regional Shoreline park. It's a place where people can visit and enjoy the waterfront.
