Pt. Chicago Naval Magazine
National Memorial
Port Chicago Naval Magazine
Concord, California
Client: National Park Service
Port Chicago was the scene of a national wartime disaster that
took the lives of over 400 men during World War II. The explosion of a
supply ship being loaded with munitions, and the fact that all the men
loading the ship were African American, underscored discriminatory practices
in the armed forces and the lack of safety and training at the time. To
commemorate the event and honor those who lost their lives, the National
Park Service commissioned Daniel Quan Design to design a simple, dignified
memorial at the explosion site. A contemplative site at the water’s
edge was constructed, featuring low berms, a curving path, and granite
markers listing all the men involved in the incident.
