Rosie the Riveter Museum and Visitor Center to Open Next to Craneway Pavilion in Historic Ford Assembly Building on the Richmond Waterfront

  

FUTURE INTERACTIVE FACILITY WILL BE FOCAL POINT OF NATIONAL PARK SERVICES' ROSIE THE RIVETER/WORLD WAR II HOME FRONT NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

RICHMOND, Calif., Sept. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Park Services' Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historic Park will soon be home to a new visitor education center and interactive museum adjacent to Craneway Pavilion at Ford Point on the Richmond waterfront.  The facility will be located in the historic Ford Assembly Building complex, through an arrangement made possible by Orton Development, which owns and operates Craneway Pavilion.  
Today's announcement of the future multi-purpose/multi-media center coincides with this evening's San Francisco Giants-hosted tribute to the legacy of Rosie the Riveter taking place at AT&T Ballpark.  Six original "Rosies" will be in attendance.
"We are proud to have the opportunity to work with the National Park Service in celebrating the significance of Rosie the Riveter, and honoring the contributions of so many Americans—in the Bay Area and beyond—to the World War II Home Front effort," said Lance Miller, General Manager, Craneway Pavilion.  "The museum and learning center will be an exciting destination for visitors, and an important addition to the Craneway environment and revitalization of Richmond."
During World War II, Rosie the Riveter emerged as an iconic cultural symbol of American women across the country rolling up their sleeves to support the war effort. Many of these pioneering "Rosies" toiled in the historic Ford Assembly Building, site of the new center (as well as the world-class event and production facility Craneway Pavilion).  They built 49,000 jeeps, and outfitted tanks, in a re-tooled industrial plant that first opened in 1932 to make Model "A" Fords.  Rosie the Riveter has since become a symbol representing the strength and determination of women everywhere striving for equality in all walks of life.
The center will both interpret the national home front movement, and orient visitors to Richmond's influential history from the era.  Through interactive exhibits and learning experiences, visitors will see, hear, and reflect on the stories and contributions of courageous home front Americans.  The center will also include a program allowing for distance learning and linkages to other representative sites across the country.
"We couldn't be more excited about the Visitor Center coming to our park," said Elizabeth Tucker, Park Ranger, Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historic Park.  "We are looking forward to working with Craneway Pavilion and Orton Development as the project takes shape."
In the meantime, visitors can learn about Richmond's special role in the history of modern America at the Home Front Festival at Ford Point on October 1-2.  The two-day event celebrates the city's own National Park and Richmond's beautiful 32-mile shoreline, boasting newly opened trails and spectacular waterfront locations. (www.homefrontfestival.com).
For more information: www.craneway.com and http://www.nps.gov/rori
SOURCE Craneway Pavilion
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http://www.homefrontfestival.com
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