| Mare Island is a small island that is approximately 30 | | | | Island’s 142 year history. |
| miles of the North Eastern coast of San Francisco, | | | | During the First World Mare Island became testing |
| being miniscule in proportion when compared to the US | | | | ground for aircraft carriers, these early prototypes |
| mainland it only measures 3.5 miles across and one | | | | were a far cry from today’s modern models and |
| mile in length. The significance of Mare Island lies in | | | | featured a wooden landing deck. The ship yard also |
| the fact that it was the first ever US naval installation | | | | went onto build 17 nuclear powered submarines the |
| outside the mainland since 1853. From sailboats to | | | | final one being the USS Drum in 1970. |
| nuclear submarines and destroyers, Mare Island San | | | | Apart from the historical naval shipyard another Mare |
| Francisco has always been in the thick of American | | | | Island attraction is St. Peter’s Chapel which was |
| Naval warfare. | | | | the first inter-denominational chapel built by the US |
| The military history of Mare Island begins in the 19th | | | | Navy in 1901. The allure of the chapel lies in its colorful |
| century when the Americans purchased the island for | | | | stained glass windows and bronze wall plaques, hand |
| $83,491 from the Spanish. A year later Commander | | | | crafted wooden tablets can also be seen fitted onto |
| David Glasgow Farragaut was sent to the island to | | | | the ceiling. The chapel had been visited by four US |
| establish a navy ship yard which would support the | | | | Presidents and countless other politicians and |
| Pacific Naval Squadron. The first ship to be built here | | | | dignitaries, during war time it wasn’t unusual for |
| the USS Saginaw was a wooden hulled, four gun, | | | | celebrities to visit the chapel in order to raise the |
| steam driven gun boat, however it was only the first | | | | morale of the sailors. |
| and more than 500 ships were built during Mare | | | | |