Gretchen Tostrup was interviewed for the Port of Los Angeles Centennial Oral History Project. Tostrup, born in San Pedro in 1955, comes from a family deeply connected to the maritime and longshore industries in the area. Her maternal grandfather was a ship chandler, and her paternal grandfather was a founding member of Local 13, a longshore union. Tostrup herself worked in her grandfather’s chandlery and later became one of the first women to work on the waterfront as a longshore casual. The interview delves into Tostrup’s family history, highlighting her grandparents' influence on her connection to the maritime industry. She recounts her childhood spent at the beach, learning to sail at a young age, and how life in San Pedro was shaped by the rhythms of the harbor. Tostrup’s work experience spans various segments of the maritime industry, from sailing in the Norwegian Merchant Marine to longshoring during college. The interview focuses on her groundbreaking role as one of the first women to work on the Los Angeles waterfront in the 1970s. She describes the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated industry, including harassment, threats, and legal battles for equal employment opportunities. Her reflections on the evolving culture of the waterfront, particularly the impact of women’s integration, provide insight into broader changes in labor and gender dynamics in the maritime workforce.