Tradition of children’s artwork continues at Maritime Center
School-aged children invited to join a ranger for arts and crafts

(Richmond, CA) – Join the National Park Service for a free, fun, family program on Saturday, February 16th at the historic Maritime Center in Richmond, CA.  The building was built in 1943 as the Maritime Child Development Center, a federally funded childcare center to serve the families of shipyard workers.  Today it is one of more than a dozen sites that make up Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park. 
At 11:00am, adult visitors are invited to tour the Maritime Center’s preschool classroom exhibit and learn about center's innovative wartime curriculum, and the role that childcare facilities played in the WWII home front effort by enabling mothers to join the workforce.  The tour begins in the lobby and lasts 1 hour. 
A family program, led by a ranger, will follow the tour, from 12-2 PM, including arts and crafts for school age children.  A parent or guardian must attend with the child.  Children who attended the Maritime Child Development Center during WWII worked with many different art materials—tempera paints, clay, cut paper collage, linoleum prints, and leather.  Children are invited to continue the tradition of art making during this fun afternoon! 
The Maritime Center is located at 1014 Florida Avenue, at the corner of Harbour Way in Richmond, CA.  Street parking nearby is generally easy to find.  The National Park’s Service’s exhibit is only accessible by guided tour or by appointment, so don’t miss this opportunity!
 During the event, visitors will also be able to view a small exhibit on playground design in the Bay Area.  The exhibit was originally curated by Susan Solomon for the Harold E. Jones Child Study Center at UC Berkeley.  The Harold E. Jones Child Study Center was designed in 1960 by architect Joseph Esherick, in collaboration with Catherine Landreth.  Ms. Landreth also served as a consultant on the design of the Maritime Child Development Center earlier in her career.
Reservations for the tour and art program are appreciated but not necessary.  Contact lucien_sonder@nps.gov or leave a message at 510.232.5050 x. 6622 to let us know you are coming.
Why not plan a whole day at the park while you are at it?  The Visitor Education Center is located just a few blocks south of the Maritime Center at 1414 Harbour Way South, suite 3000, Richmond, CA 94804.  The Visitor Education Center is open 7 days a week between 10 AM and 5 PM. 
For more information and directions to the Visitor Education Center, please go to http://www.nps.gov/rori/planyourvisit/directions.htm.  There is no charge for admission to any park sites or events.
Attached photo caption (This photo is web ready.  If you need a print quality photo, please email me.): 

A corner of the National Park Service’s preschool classroom exhibit at the Maritime Center on Florida Avenue in Richmond.  Background photo shows Monica Haley, longtime director of the art program in the Richmond Child Development Centers.  Photo credit: Eric Chiu, Hamilton+ Aitken Architects.

Lucien Sonder, Outreach Specialist/VIP Manager
National Park Service
Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park 
2566 Macdonald Avenue
Richmond, CA 94804
T: 510.232.5050 x. 6622 | E: lucien_sonder@nps.gov
http://www.nps.gov/rori Experience Your America