Point Richmond, Richmond, California facts for kids
Point Richmond, also called The Point, is a cool neighborhood in Richmond, California. It's located close to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and the San Francisco Bay. It's a unique spot with a lot of history and fun things to see!
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History of Point Richmond
Point Richmond started as a small village called East Yards. It was the main downtown area of Richmond a long time ago, in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Later, a new downtown area became busier. But Point Richmond still has many of its original small, local shops, often called "mom-and-pop" stores. These are usually family-owned businesses. The whole Point Richmond Historic District has been a special historic place since 1978.
North of the neighborhood, you'll find some big industrial areas. This includes a large Chevron oil refinery and other factories. There's also a busy train yard where long freight trains are put together. These trains carry containers and cars from nearby ports. The sounds of these trains are a constant part of life in Point Richmond. People who live here have mixed feelings about the trains. They want them to be quieter, but they also fought to save old train crossing signals called wig wag signals. These signals are very rare now!
A ridge of land divides the neighborhood into two parts: a "Bay side" and a "town side." Many houses, including old Victorian homes, have amazing views of the bay. A lot of the businesses are in buildings that are over 100 years old, from before the town was even officially founded.
Fun Things to Do in Point Richmond
There are many cool places to visit in Point Richmond!
- The Plunge: This is a famous local swimming center. It reopened in 2010 after getting a big upgrade.
- Nicholl Knob: This nearby hill is part of the Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline. It's a great place for outdoor activities.
- Point Richmond History Association Museum: In the historic downtown, you can find a small museum. It has old photos and items that tell the story of the area.
- Ferry Point Tunnel: There's a tunnel through Nicholl Knob. Long ago, Santa Fe Railroad trains used this tunnel to reach Ferry Point. From there, passengers would take ferries across the bay to San Francisco.
- Brickyard Cove: Part of the area on the bay side of the tunnel is called Brickyard Cove. It got its name because a brick factory used to be there.
- Keller Beach: Point Richmond has a public beach called Keller Beach. It's a nice spot for relaxing. Nearby, you'll find a picnic area and parking.
- Golden State Model Railroad Museum: Right across from the picnic area is this museum. It has amazing model train displays!
- S.S. Red Oak Victory Ship: At the end of Dornan Drive, you can see the S.S. Red Oak Victory ship. This ship was built in Richmond during World War II. It's now part of the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park.
Waterfront Views
Further along the coast, you'll find Brickyard Cove and the Richmond Yacht Club. This is one of many boat marinas in the city. There are also homes built right over the water on special supports.
In 2007, a large gray whale calf, about 20 feet (6 meters) long, washed up on the shore of Point Richmond. After some time, the whale was towed back out to sea.
Two important waterways in the area are the Herman Slough Creek and the Santa Rita Channel. These were once part of the marshlands that separated Point Richmond from the mainland.
Getting Around Point Richmond
Point Richmond is served by several bus lines.
- AC Transit Line 72M: This bus starts in Jack London Square and ends in Point Richmond.
- Golden Gate Transit Routes 42 and 40: These buses go to San Rafael Transit Center in Marin County.
There used to be other bus routes, like a shuttle to the Richmond Ferry Terminal and a bus to El Cerrito del Norte BART. However, these routes were stopped.
