MIHPF Events

Join us in the stunning oldest naval chapel in the Nation to hear Captain Scott Shackleton speak. Beginning in the 19th century, expeditions were mounted to reach the earth’s poles by dog sled after sailing as far as the ice would allow. In 1872 the exploration ship Jeannette departed Mare Island for the north pole only to be locked in, and crushed by ice, as the crew faced disaster. Captain Scott Shackleton will join us to tell the tale of a similarly fated Antarctic expedition: the Endurance, captained by Sir Ernest Shackleton. Survival meant travelling over open ice followed by an 850-mile journey across the Wedell Sea in an open boat to seek rescue. Incredibly, under the leadership of Sir Ernest Shackleton all twenty-seven crew members survived their 2-year ordeal. Join us on Sunday, June 18th, at 2 pm to hear the direct descendent of that leader describe this fascinating adventure.

Mark your calendar for Founders day (September 16th was the day Commander David Farragut officially opened the Shipyard in 1854), where we celebrate the future, present and past of Mare Island. We are planning a series of historical events over the weekend (tours, a rededication of Alden Park's restored original flagpole, a panel discussion with diverse viewpoints of the Mare Island experience, etc), culminating in an afternoon of music and festive frivolity on the waterfront on Saturday.

PedalFest is a huge festival devoted to all things bicycle, a festival, kids bike rodeo, bike swap, family bike excursions, and anchored by the Mare Island Wet Mile Urban Cyclo-cross (think of an obstacle course on bikes, riding throughout the history of Mare Island). The Foundation will be conducting the "Lap of the Shipyard" family-friendly biking tours of the Island with stops for historic explanation along the way. All proceeds from Lap of the Shipyard to benefit the Foundation. See the PedalFest website for details.

Vallejo’s population is over 20% Filipino and a major reason for that was the United States Navy. Join us as RADM Cox and Cecilia Gabrian take us through that important relationship with a special focus on Medal of Honor Recipient Telesforo Trinidad. He was a survivor of both the sinking of the battleship USS MAINE Havana Harbor at the outbreak of the Spanish American War, but also survived and performed heroically when the USS BENNINGTON exploded and sank in the worse peacetime disaster to date in the US Navy. Speakers: Director of the Naval History and Heritage Command and Curator of the Navy, RADM Samuel Cox, together with – Cecilia Gabrlan, Executive Director Bataan Legacy Society

Date and Time TBD (likely May): Join us at St. Peter's Chapel for the riveting tale of the USS Saginaw, the first ship every built on Mare Island. Author Hans Konrad Van Tilburg will lead us through a tale that includes fighting pirates, sweeping for mines, a shipwreck, and a perilous 1500 mile sailing journey in a hastily rigged whaleboat to initiate a rescue that sounds more like a movie than real life. Tickets offered as soon as date is finalized.

We have booked Dr. David Winkler, Staff historian, United States Naval Institute, for a discussion of the incredible history of the USS Langley in 2024. Exact date and time TBD.