The Government’s Toxic Secret at Hunters Point

Discover the untold story of Hunters Point, one of America’s most significant and controversial shipyards. From its crucial role in naval construction during World War II to its transformation into a testing ground for nuclear cleanup experiments, Hunters Point holds a dark history buried beneath layers of government secrecy. This site, once a thriving hub of shipbuilding and innovation, is now infamous for its toxic contamination, environmental disasters, and allegations of cover-ups.

#HuntersPoint #ShipyardHistory #ToxicSecrets #USNavalHistory #EnvironmentalDisaster #GovernmentCoverup #ToxicWaste #MilitaryHistory #RadioactiveCleanup #AbandonedPlaces

IT’S HISTORY - Weekly Tales of American Urban Decay as presented by your host Ryan Socash.

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» CREDIT
Scriptwriter - Wyatt Catucci
Editor - Karolina Szwata
Host - Ryan Socash
Music/Sound Design: Dave Daddario

» NOTICE
Some images may be used for illustrative purposes only - always reflecting the accurate time frame and content. Events of factual error / mispronounced word/spelling mistakes - retractions will be published in this section.

[AB-vcox]

Thanks for the history lesson, I grew up in 60’s 70’s SF and somehow little if any of the bay area’s wartime history was ever talked about. In our teens and 20’s the entire Bay Area was history to be explored right under our noses and about all we knew of it was that places like Hunters Point and Richmond were slums and places best avoided, nothing about the amazing contributions to the war effort. If it wasn’t for the internet the history would largely be lost and forgotten.

[paulantonio]

Around 2015 I checked out some of the new housing being constructed at the Shipyard. I asked the rep from the development about the area being a Superfund site. He said all the toxins and waste were cleaned up, and then changed the subject. Needless to say, I looked elsewhere.

[andrewadams]

Part of the closed shipyard was once home to the Golden Gate Railroad Museum. They may have been displaced by cleanup operations. They first moved to the Niles Canyon Railroad and later moved to Schellville. Had the museum been able to stay, the place might have retained something of its industrial character.

[jbartlet]

Just across the water on Alameda Island. The old NAS here is a little farther along in the process. We had years of trucks hauling contaminated top soil out and clean (hopefully) soil back in. Today the old base is home to new housing, a marine life sanctuary and a number of wineries and distilleries. It's still a little gross, but far better than Hunter's Point. Hopefully the Point will get there one day. Great video!

[kevingrant]

My dad was stationed at Hunters point 1970 - 72 . We lived on Treasure Island at that time . I used to walk all around Hunters point when I was there . I saw the USS Enterprise in dry dock there, walked right up to the guard rail at the bow of the ship , looked up, looked down . Man that's a big ship !

[Jason-]

The US is in des[erate need of shipyards capable of producing large military vessels as since the end of WW II the government has privatized most all of the Naval Shipyards we had. Those shipyards have either closed of downsized to the point that they are no longer capable of producing Naval Vessels as maintaining that capability was not cost efficient. Today the US has less than 5 shipyards capable of building surface warships out of the more than 2-3 dozen that either belonged to the US government or were under contract to the US government at the end of WW II.

[schmidt]

I made a model of the hunters point shipyard crane that’s hand cut steel and Tig welded together it’s big enough that you can put an 80 inch television on top of it and it lives in myliving room

[EzrbcinNV]

I spent 6 months at Hunters Point with the Ranger(CV61) gfor major repairs in 1971. That surrounding neighborhood was nasty. I felt safer in Vietnam.

[senorowlando]

I lived on Treasure Island from 2008 to 2010 and that place had a fair amount of radioactive materials still being found only 18 inches from the surface of people’s front lawns. Apparently the radiological activity going on at Hunters Point was related to studies being done there as well. Treasure Island was sold to the city of San Francisco for only $1 because it’s still a superfund site to this day. 🇺🇸

[IndyPhil]

Drinking game: Take a shot every time he says "Hunters Point" 🥴🥃

[xmrfikb]

We built the new homes out there . They shipped the dirt out at night and brought new dirt in . Everyone had skin issues on site . This was in 2012 . The place is toxic !

[brucelytle]

I do not understand why the government gave up all of it's shipyards! Philadelphia, Brookland, Charleston, Long Beach, and of course Hunters Point.

[BadlandNP]

I believe USS Carl Vinson was the last carrier to use the drydock. We were there in 1987 when I discharged. We were told to be sure we had full gas tanks in our vehicles, don't stop for gas until you got to the I-280 gas station and to never walk off the base. Gunshots occasionally in the night up in the old housing area just off base. Wild times! And sad to see the decline and loss of our shipyard abilities.

[zublacus]

Sitting as a kid at Candlestick park, watching Willie Mays roam Centerfield I'd look over and see that giant candy kane red and white crane.

[Chronicheaven]

I lived in Hunter's point for 10 months during this century.
First night in the hood there was a shooting half a block up on my side of the street.
2nd night at my apt., there was a shooting 2 blocks down on my side of the street. Then there were like 6 days without a shooting. Then there was one on the opposite side of the street down by the library. This was all on Rivera, 1 block south of Palou.
Mother Brown's was around the corner, South a block. This was all off the 3rd St. Bart. East at Palou or Rivera

[raisinbartholamew]

I remember going to a new years warehouse party by or at hunters point in 99 Good times good memories!!

[dgsantafedave]

I worked for Carpenter Rigging and Supply back in 1988 and the commute there was pretty sketchy! A lot of old buildings that were boarded up and a very dystopian scene! Worked 12 hours days and made a grip of cash though!

[danielduffy]

They should turning back into what it was, that was awesome times.

[bxdanny]

When I saw the name Hunters Point, i thought of the neighborhood in Queens, NYC that goes by that name (not to be confused with Hunts Point in the Bronx). Luckily for us New Yorkers, this was about a completely different Hunters Point.

[rocketdude]

Its good that they are saving a place with such a rich history . That ship yard must have seen a lot of ships over the years.