In addition to Point Molate, the City of Richmond owns Terminal 4, about a mile up Stenmark Drive. The terminal is no longer active as a maritime operation, but it was once a bustling center of fish processing. It was also the location of the last whaling station in the continental United States, which closed in 1968.

Although some of the whale meat was sold for human consumption, most went to pet foods. The oil was used in various manufacturing applications. Richmond Real Estate Broker Joe Fisher worked at the whaling station in his youth and has produced an extremely detailed account of his experiences. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bR7vIupEeY).

Figure 1 - The last whaling station

Figure 2 - a blue whale is pulled up the ramp

After whaling ended, the facility became a rendering plant, putting out sickening smoke. Finally, in 1995, it burned to the ground.