Sentry Houses, A272 and A279

Circa 1942

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 28, 2020

1. Sentry Houses, A272 and A279, Marker

Inscription. These sentry houses are key contributing features of the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. A National Historic Landmark, Marine Corps manned A272 to guard entry to the high security naval ammunition depot, while A279 was a waiting booth for those needing transportation. The Mare Island Naval Ammunition Depot manufactured, stored, transported and disposed of munitions from 1857-1975. Thousands of workers and visitors to the ammunition depot passed through these booths during the height of World War II. These sentry houses are a testament to the countless women and men who labored here in service to their country.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Military.

Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 38° 5.163′ N, 122° 15.611′ W. Marker was in Vallejo, California, in Solano County. It was on Azuar Avenue, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Vallejo CA 94592, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in California’s San Francisco Bay Area,

in Sacramento Valley,

and specifically in the Central Valley.

It was also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it was in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

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the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this location, measured as the crow flies: Beyond These Sentry Houses (a few steps from this marker); Anna Arnold Key Turner (approx. 0.6 miles away); In Memory of the Port Chicago 50 - Vallejo, August 1944 (approx. 0.6 miles away); St. Peter's Chapel (approx. 0.8 miles away); Vallejo As State Capital (approx. one mile away); Mare Island Navy Yard Work Bell (approx. one mile away); Breech Loading Cannon (approx. one mile away); Fourth Marine Division Memorial (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vallejo.

Another marker is no longer nearby. First Wireless Station (was approx. 0.3 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Sentry Houses... (HABS). "Significance: Buildings A272 & A279, built in 1942, are considered significant for their association with U.S. Naval history and the Mare Island Naval Shipyard (MINSY), the first naval installation on the west coast. Portions of MINSY are within a National Historic Landmark. These building, however, are outside the landmark, but within the Mare Island Historic District. They were constructed for the Marine

The Marker is Missing image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, February 25, 2023

2. The Marker is Missing

Security Detachment as gate sentry houses, guarding entry to the Naval Ammunition Depot Area. They are contributing elements of the successful base operations at MINSY and are the only examples of sentry house design, construction methods and materials used on the island during WWII." - Historic American Buildings Survey (Submitted on July 28, 2020.)

Sentry House A279 and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 28, 2020

3. Sentry House A279 and Marker

<i>Interior view of A279, facing northeast...</i> image. Click for full size.

David G. DeVries (courtesy of the Historic American Buildings Survey and Library of Congress), 2002

4. Interior view of A279, facing northeast...

Sentry Houses A272 (right) and A279 (left), looking south on Azuar Avenue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 28, 2020

5. Sentry Houses A272 (right) and A279 (left), looking south on Azuar Avenue

Credits. This page was last revised on March 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 268 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 28, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 2. submitted on March 9, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 28, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.