Rosie the Riveter and World War II

 This site provides information on the various efforts taking place in Long Beach, California to honor the thousands of women who served on the home front in World War II and who significantly changed the City of Long Beach.

These women were affectionately and collectively called "Rosie the Riveter" following the release of the popular song (click here to hear it) performed by the African-American group "The Four Vagabonds."

When Norman Rockwell illustrated the cover of the Saturday Evening Post with a drawing of a strong, red-head woman in overalls, with a riveting gun on her lap and a lunch pail at her side with "Rosie" written on it -- the image was complete.

In 2000, the U.S. Congress established the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond,California, as part of the national park system. This park contains a memorial to the women who worked in the Richmond-area Kaiser shipyards.

Four years later, Congress passed House Concurrent Resolution 413 honoring the contributions of women symbolized by “Rosie the Riveter.”

The Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center is the first of its kind in Southern California and only the second site in the U.S.to honor the women who worked on the home front.

To learn a little more about the Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center, please watch this snapshot video.

The History of the Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center

In 2006, 5th District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, requested that the Long Beach City Council rename a three acre park adjacent to the site of the former Douglas Aircraft Plant the “Rosie the Riveter Park” (at Clark Avenue at Conant Street).

As she researched the contributions of these women and the changes they made forever to the role of women and to the City of Long Beach, she knew she needed to get the word out about what happened in Long Beach, California.

The City Council renamed the park in 2007 “Rosie the Riveter Park” and a dedication ceremony brought hundreds of people -- including several real “Rosie’s” -- to view historic photographs brought out of the Douglas Aircraft Plant - Boeing Company archives.

In 2008, Arcadia Publishing published "Rosie the Riveter in Long Beach," by Gerrie Schipske and in 2009, Councilwoman Schipske founded The Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation -- a non profit organization which raises funds and support for the enhancements at the park.