Designed by Albert Kahn and constructed in 1930, the Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant was the largest assembly plant on the west coast. When President Roosevelt banned the production of civilian automobiles during World War II, the plant temporarily became the Richmond Tank Depot. Jeeps, tanks, and other military vehicles were assembled here for shipment to the war in the Pacific.

After the war, Ford resumed assembly of civilian automobiles until the plant was closed in 1956, rendered obsolete by technological changes in automobile manufacturing. The building has remained vacant for almost half a century, but the city of Richmond plans to rehabilitate it and use it in part as the focal point of the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park.

High resolution photograph of the Ford Plant.

National Park Service web page about the history of the plant.