I grew up in Alameda, I was here when Alameda NAS was an active duty base. It's been closed for nearly 30 years, and now it's called Alameda Point. Area wise, Alameda Point covers about 1/3 of the island, so there's alot of land to develop. The peaceful Alameda of today, is not the same as when the base was open. Navy jets would do laps over the island daily. The jet engine tests would make the ground shake and the roar would wake you from a light nap. In the early 1970's a jet from the Central Valley crashed into an apartment building. My Dad and I ran outside just in time to see a fireball rise over the houses. But the base was a great source of revenue for the city. When a carrier or carriers were in port, Webster Street would be gridlocked with traffic. Traffic couldn't get out of the Tube. That's why they built the Constitution Way flyover ramp. It's to divert traffic away from Webster, and onto Lincoln Avenue. Webster St became a ghost town when the base closed. I had a high school friend who was a Navy Captain's son. He would take us on base and give us tours. The base was well maintained when sailors and airman were there. When they left, it became abandoned and ugly. When I was in College Army ROTC we launched an airmobile operation from the NAS. 65 armed troops in combat gear, boarding a Chinook helicopter to conduct a raid on an imaginary target 300+ miles away. During Desert Storm, jets flew airstrikes from the NAS. Very few people knew that. It has a rich history, and it shouldn't be forgotten. I regret I didn't take a picture of the East Gate before they tore it down. read more

The Alameda Naval Air Station sprawls across the west end shore. Seemingly endless abandoned buildings litter the scape. Some portions have been sold to apartment developers building structures that lack integrity. The empty air craft hangars. The empty NARDAC headquarters. So much military industrial architecture to be observed. Skaters galore, just watch out for base security. They lack any enforcement ability but love doing their job, nothing. I go here to walk my dog and explore the endless labyrinth of streets with names from times gone by. read more

Alameda Naval Air Station - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Alameda, California

Came here on a thursday afternoon and all I can say is wow. I was super amazed by how you can see the Bay Bridge from San Francisco and other buildings. Its a great place to drive around and to see the history of the buildings. Some were abandoned but some werent. I believe you can also pay to go inside this ship! But it wasn't open when we got there. I heard lots of people who mod out their cars go here and take photoshoots haha. Not the best place to look at a scenery but should def check out a part of alameda! Its so cool and interesting to me that a city like alameda has this. Its also close to the ferry boats too! read more

Formerly known as U.S. Naval Air Station Alameda and now called Alameda Point was decommissioned April 1997 after serving as "Aviation Gateway to the Pacific" for 60+ years. This base has a special place in my heart... I used to reside at the BEQ (Bachelor's Enlisted Quarters) when I was stationed here way back in the 90's. I worked at the Branch Medical Clinic and besides working there I was also on Ambulance duty for the Naval Air Station. And during President Clinton's visit to the Bay Area, I was assigned to be a part of the Ambulance crew under the supervision of the White House Medical Team. During my brief stint here I was fortunate enough to be awarded the Naval Air Station Junior Sailor of the Year . It was convenient to reside in the base. Everything was available - well almost everything. Basically you didn't have to get out the base - Bowling alley, Naval Exchange (tax free), Movie theater, Church, Post Office, Video Arcade, Bar, Lounge, Clubs, Gym, swimming pool, MC Donald's, Credit Union, Gas station, Grocery store, Motel, Galley, Tennis courts, Soft ball field, Soccer field, etc. It was a like a small town. Sadly , I volunteered to end my enlistment due to government cut backs during the Clinton era, ending almost seven years of Military service. Overall it was a pleasure serving this base during my last tour of duty. read more

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I wrote a review earlier this morning in response to Tetra Tech's involvement with the Hunter's Point Shipyard and encourage anyone who stumbles on this review to check it out, as Tetra Tech apparently has also been involved with work at the Alameda Naval Air Station. There was a related May 23, 2018 article entitled "Navy says Alameda development site safe, but others worry." As with the previous review, I'm unsure as to where this is in the process or whether concerns have been answered to satisfaction. Please feel free to email me with questions, concerns, or knowledge of developments. Thank you for your time and consideration. https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Redevelopment-begins-worries-mount-at-Alameda-12938676.php read more

The naval base use to be the industry of the city. My father use to work there as a machinist during the 80s & 90s. When the Cold War was over so was the base and the jobs. The place has that rust town look, abandoned despite some occupants in the dilapidated warehouses. The view to San Francisco's skyline is beautiful. The future of this base depends on what developers want to do with the area, like condos, affordable housing or commercial spaces. At least the USS Hornet is still around for the October Fleet Week. read more

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The U.S. Naval Air Station, Alameda was opened by the Navy in 1936, and closed April 25, 1997. Since its closing, it has become the home to many Bay Area businesses, as well as a place for recreation and even housing for Bay Area residents. Once on the base, you can find the USS Hornet Musuem, the Alameda Naval Air Museum, Bladium Sports Club, and the Alameda Skate Park. There are also soccer fields, and a softball field, as well as a the Alameda Point Gym. You can get here by car, by AC Transit, or by ferry via the Alameda-Oakland Ferry. This place is great for photo ops, as well as teaching someone how to drive a car! When I was fifteen my parents took me here to teach me how to drive. It was perfect! All of what you would find in a real driving situation, except a lot of other cars- stop signs, parking spots, traffic lights, and even parallel parking. A year later, I learned to drive stick here, too, and since then have used this to teach friends and family how to drive as well. A few fun facts: MythBusters (Discovery Channel) use parts of the base for their more dangerous and destructive experiments. The television car rally-race show Bullrun (SpikeTV) used this area for an overnight stop as well as well as some of the stunts performed on the show. There was a two-mile loop built here for car chase scenes from the movie Matrix Reloaded; they shot for seven weeks here, I even saw Laurence Fishburne here, but couldn't get close enough to meet him! The Alameda Naval Base holds so many things in store for Bay Area families to enjoy, I'm glad that it is there for my use today. read more

I worked at the Naval Air Rework Facility, NAS alameda. I took the opportunity to visit the base before the pandemic. As I drove around it definitely had a ghost town feeling looking at all the vacant and dilapidated buildings. I remember seeing from time to time A-4 Skyhawks coming back in scraps from Vietnam in sections on pallets with bullet holes. I remember the Engine Division, Electronics Division etc., buildings and a good number of people who worked at NARF as I have kept my yearbook. Many of them are now gone. It was a great place to work and I built my career there. I can remember the good times and the challenging times of returning equipment to the fleet on schedule and below cost. NARF/NAS Alameda and its people will always have a fond place in my heart and memories. Time marches on... read more

Take the kids here to the skate park and they love it here. A pretty decent place to teach someone how to drive since it's so empty. Across the street is a parking area that faces the water which is nice to just hang out and chill. read more

The Naval Air Station holds a lot of meaning to me. My grandfather and my aunt both worked here and dedicated many many years of their lives at this facility. What was once a thriving, bustling base is now almost like a frozen piece of history. It's incredible to just drive around and see all of the buildings where sailors and officers and staff would be working and living and going about their business. Seeing the U.S.S Hornet docked here is really amazing, because it puts into perspective the scope and size of a battleship, and the ship itself is a floating piece of history, right in our backyards here in Alameda. I wish it wasn't considered trespassing to take a look inside all of the buildings on the base, because I would love to walk around and see what everything looks like now. It's pretty amazing that some businesses have even moved into the old hangars. I think it's so neat to see the old sailor's quarters still standing as well, and the old theater, gym, and recreation hall. This really is a great place to learn how to drive because it's layout somewhat resembles city streets; this is where I was taken to learn how to drive, so I'd recommend the NAS for this purpose, along with just coming to take a look at a standing piece of history. Truly a great experience. read more

Before the base closed in the 90's there was nothing like watching the USS Enterprise or the USS Carl Vinson or even the USS Abraham Lincoln pulling underneath the Golden Gate Bridge or the Bay Bridge. Being on the piers waiting for Husband, Father or Family member to pull in was awesome. Actually all Navy ships pulling in was Awesome. Nowadays its nice to drive around and remember where my father worked for 32 years. Brings back great memories. read more

I can't state any legitimate quality facts about this place but I can say that I don't mind biking and driving around this place when we have visitors. I think it's a neat place to show people how lucky Alameda is to have an old naval station, winery and brewery, skate park, (2) gyms, soccer field, and more just at this old base. I love the sunsets from the ship docking side though. If you walk all the way to the end of the dock of the ships, there's an area you can just stand or sit on the table to watch the sunset with the city's silhouette. If you're not used to the place, it's kind of easy to get lost though. read more

A big secluded area where you can walk your dogs and just look at factories. Not a very nice scenic view but it's interesting to look at all the buildings there. There is also a dog part inside the army naval base which is near one of the entrances but it's not clean and the grass has dried out. My dogs just walk outside the dog park since there is greener grass. read more

I was stationed at Alameda after boot camp from 1961-1963. I worked at Fuels. Alameda was an awsome place for a guy comming from a one horse town, so was Oakland. Love to go fishing off the break wall for stripers. Hope some day to take my wife there and show her the place. Loved to go to the beach, especially at night. That is where I met my first love, she loved to walk on the beach at night. Man what wonderful memories of that place, too bad it had to change with the times. read more

My first, and most rememberable job, after receiving my Bachelor's Degree in Journalism, was as a Public Affairs Specialist at the Naval Air Station. It was in 1968. The Vietnam War was taking our young men away from their homes. Many saw their lives end in that strange place. Many of them were still teenagers. I was twenty one and gave tours, wrote articles for the Carrier, wrote speeches for the Commander of the NAS, took photos and wrote press releases. One of my most vivid memories was when the Carrier Enterprise, number 64, was set on fire in Hawaii, in an aircraft accident. The Enterprise limped into San Francisco Bay. We went to the base chapel to mourn the young sailors who died in the flames. Their families were devastated and numb. Certain events change us forever and we never are as innocent and self centered as we were, even hours before. When I read about people hanging out and driving around the base in order to entertain themselves for an afternoon, if the souls of the young sailors are watching. Sheri read more

i love alameda naval air station... its a fabulous place to hang out look at the san fran bay bridge,alsoteaching my daughter how to drive its perfect...hope it remains here and my kids can grow up to enjoy it as much as i did as a kid my father was stationed there ,nice place sad to see it getting so run down though, but i will always come enjoy it as long as its there.. read more

I lived in military housing when my father was stationed here and also met and married here. My husband worked on the base. It was such a shock going back to this place after so long and seeing how run down everything is. So many memories and great times were had here. I hope that one day this place will get fixed up. It has beautiful views of san Francisco and the bay bridge. This property has so much potential. For now there are a few businesses on there and the hornet is there for tours. read more