From Shipyard to Yacht Harbor  

A striking feature of the Estuary's recent history, has been a general shift in maritime activity from work to play. For example the Alameda Marina, opened in 1967, is a 520-berth yacht harbor that occupies a portion of the old General Engineering & Drydock Company (GEDDCO) shipyard. A number of the shipyard buildings have been retained and are now leased to tenants ranging from yacht brokers to a yacht club.

GEDDCO established its Alameda yard in 1922 and grew during World War II to become one of the largest ship repair yards on the Pacific Coast, with over 1,000 workers and a wartime tally of nearly 4,000 ships repaired. The postwar collapse of the shipbuilding industry led to the shipyard's closing in 1948. GEDDCO had displaced the Alameda Boating Club. It, in turn, was replaced by the Alameda Marina.

Woodruff Minor
Historian

  "Walk Along the Water"
  © Oakland Museum of California, used with permission.

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