Boston Navy Yard

Boston Naval Shipyard
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark District
1912 Map of the Charlestown Navy Yard and Mystic Wharf
Location:	East of Chelsea Street, Charlestown, Boston, Massachusetts
Coordinates:	42°22′34″N 71°3′9″W / 42.37611°N 71.0525°W / 42.37611; -71.0525Coordinates: 42°22′34″N 71°3′9″W / 42.37611°N 71.0525°W / 42.37611; -71.0525
Built:	1800
Architect:	Alexander Parris, et al.
Governing body:	National Park Service
NRHP Reference#:	66000134[1]
Added to NRHP:	November 15, 1966

The Boston Navy Yard, originally called the Charlestown Navy Yard and later Boston Naval Shipyard, was one of the oldest shipbuilding facilities in the United States Navy. Established in 1801, it was officially closed as an active naval installation on July 1, 1974, and the 30-acre (120,000 m²) property was transferred to the National Park Service to be part of Boston National Historical Park. Enough of the yard remains in operation to support the USS Constitution. The USS Cassin Young, a World War II-era destroyer serving as a museum ship, is also berthed here. Among people in the area and the National Park Service, it is still known as the Charlestown Navy Yard.^[2]

History

The earliest naval shipbuilding activities in Charlestown, Massachusetts, began during the American Revolutionary War. The land for the Charlestown Navy Yard was purchased in 1800 and the yard itself established shortly thereafter. The yard built the first U.S. ship of the line, USS Independence, but was primarily a repair and storage facility until the 1890s, when it started to build steel ships for the "New Navy". By then, it was called the Boston Navy Yard.

On June 24, 1833, the staff and dignitaries including Vice President Martin Van Buren, Secretary of War Lewis Cass, Secretary of the Navy Levi Woodbury, and many Massachusetts officials, witnessed "one of the great events of American naval history": the United States frigate Constitution was inaugurating the first naval drydock in New England designed by prominent civil engineer Loammi Baldwin, Jr..^[3] On March 14, 1975, the historic ship floated out of the dock—the last commissioned vessel to use the facility.^[4]

Boston Navy Shipyard
Boston, Massachusetts
Type	Shipyard
Built	1800
In use	1800 — 1975
Controlled by	United States Navy

The Ropewalk supplied cordage used in the Navy from the time it opened in 1837 until the Yard closed in 1975. After the Civil War, the Yard was downgraded to an Equipment and Recruit Facility.^[4]

In the 1890s, the Navy began expanding and that brought new life to the Yard. In the first years of the 20th century, a second drydock was added. During WWII, it worked to fix British Ships damaged by the Germans. On 27 September 1941 Liberty Fleet Day Boston launched two destroyers USS Cowie and USS Knight. In the post war period, it worked on modernizing vessels through Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM). The Korean War and Vietnam War didn't bring much work to the Yard since it was so far from the fighting.

Notable ships built at Boston Navy Yard

• 1934 — USS MacDonough (DD-351) - (Farragut class destroyer)^[5] Attack on Pearl Harbor - Battle of Savo Island - Battle of the Philippine Sea - Battle of Leyte Gulf
• 1935 — USS Monaghan (DD-354) - (Farragut class destroyer)^[5] Attack on Pearl Harbor - Battle of the Coral Sea - Battle of Midway - Battle of the Komandorski Islands - Battle of the Philippine Sea
• 1935 — USS Case (DD-370) - (Mahan class destroyer)^[6] Attack on Pearl Harbor - Battle of the Philippine Sea
• 1935 — USS Conyngham (DD-371) - (Mahan class destroyer)^[6] Attack on Pearl Harbor - Battle of Midway - Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands - Operation Crossroads
• 1936 — USS Mugford (DD-389) - (Benham class destroyer)^[7] Attack on Pearl Harbor
• 1936 — USS Ralph Talbot (DD-390) - (Benham class destroyer)^[7] Attack on Pearl Harbor - Battle of Savo Island - Battle of Kolombangara - Battle off Cape Engaño - Operation Crossroads
• 1938 — USS Mayrant (DD-402) - (Benham class destroyer)^[7] Naval Battle of Casablanca - Operation Crossroads
• 1938 — USS Trippe (DD-403) - (Benham class destroyer)^[7] Allied invasion of Sicily - Invasion of Salerno - Operation Crossroads
• 1939 — USS O'Brien (DD-415) - (Sims class destroyer)^[8] Guadalcanal Campaign
• 1939 — USS Walke (DD-416) - (Sims class destroyer)^[8] Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
• 1939 — USS Madison (DD-425) - (Benson class destroyer)^[8] Battle of the Atlantic - Operation Dragoon
• 1939 — USS Lansdale (DD-426) - (Benson class destroyer)^[8] Battle of the Atlantic
• 1940 — USS Gwin (DD-433) - (Gleaves class destroyer)^[9] Doolittle Raid - Battle of Midway - Naval Battle of Guadalcanal - Battle of Kolombangara
• 1940 — USS Meredith (DD-434) - (Gleaves class destroyer)^[9] Doolittle Raid
• 1940 — USS Wilkes (DD-441) - (Gleaves class destroyer)^[10] Naval Battle of Casablanca
• 1940 — USS Nicholson (DD-442) - (Gleaves class destroyer)^[10] invasion of Salerno - Battle for Leyte Gulf
• 1941 — USS Forrest (DD-461) - (Gleaves class destroyer)^[10] Operation Torch - Normandy invasion - Operation Dragoon - Battle of Okinawa
• 1941 — USS Fitch (DD-462) - (Gleaves class destroyer)^[10] Operation Torch - Normandy invasion - Operation Dragoon
• 1941 — USS Cowie (DD-632) - (Gleaves class destroyer)^[11] Operation Torch - Allied invasion of Sicily
• 1941 — USS Knight (DD-633) - (Gleaves class destroyer)^[11] Operation Torch - Allied invasion of Sicily - Allied invasion of Italy
• 1941 — USS Doran (DD-634) - (Gleaves class destroyer)^[11] Operation Torch - Allied invasion of Sicily
• 1941 — USS Earle (DD-635) - (Gleaves class destroyer)^[11] Allied invasion of Sicily
• 1942 — USS Guest (DD-472) - (Fletcher class destroyer)^[11] Battle of the Philippine Sea - Battle of Iwo Jima - Battle of Okinawa
• 1942 — USS Bennett (DD-473) - (Fletcher class destroyer)^[11] Battle of Iwo Jima - Battle of Okinawa
• 1942 — USS Fullam (DD-474) - (Fletcher class destroyer)^[11] Battle of the Philippine Sea - Battle of Iwo Jima - Battle of Okinawa
• 1942 — USS Hudson (DD-475) - (Fletcher class destroyer)^[11] Battle of the Philippine Sea - Battle of Iwo Jima - Battle of Okinawa
• 1942 — USS Hutchins (DD-476) - (Fletcher class destroyer)^[11] Battle of Surigao Strait - Battle of Iwo Jima - Battle of Okinawa
• 1942 — USS Charrette (DD-581) - (Fletcher class destroyer)^[12] Battle of the Philippine Sea - Battle for Leyte Gulf
• 1942 — USS Conner (DD-582) - (Fletcher class destroyer)^[12] Battle of the Philippine Sea - Battle for Leyte Gulf
• 1942 — USS Hall (DD-583) - (Fletcher class destroyer)^[12] Philippines campaign - Battle of Iwo Jima - Battle of Okinawa
• 1943 — USS Halligan (DD-584) - (Fletcher class destroyer)^[12] Philippines campaign - Battle of Iwo Jima - Battle of Okinawa
• 1943 — USS Haraden (DD-585) - (Fletcher class destroyer)^[12] Philippines campaign
• 1943 — USS Newcomb (DD-586) - (Fletcher class destroyer)^[12] Battle of Surigao Strait - Battle of Iwo Jima - Battle of Okinawa
• 1943 — USS Bennion (DD-662) - (Fletcher class destroyer)^[13] Battle of Leyte - Battle of Iwo Jima - Battle of Okinawa
• 1943 — USS Heywood L. Edwards (DD-663) - (Fletcher class destroyer)^[13] Battle of Surigao Strait - Battle of Iwo Jima - Battle of Okinawa
• 1943 — USS Richard P. Leary (DD-664) - (Fletcher class destroyer)^[13] Battle of Surigao Strait - Battle of Iwo Jima - Battle of Okinawa
• 1942 — USS Evarts (DE-5) - (Evarts class destroyer escort)^[14]
• 1942 — USS Wyffels (DE-6) - (Evarts class destroyer escort)^[14]
• 1943 — USS Griswold (DE-7) - (Evarts class destroyer escort)^[14]
• 1943 — USS Steele (DE-8) - (Evarts class destroyer escort)^[14]
• 1943 — USS Carlson (DE-9) - (Evarts class destroyer escort)^[14]
• 1943 — USS Bebas (DE-10) - (Evarts class destroyer escort)^[15]
• 1943 — USS Crouter (DE-11) - (Evarts class destroyer escort)^[15]
• 1943 — USS Seid (DE-256) - (Evarts class destroyer escort)^[15]
• 1943 — USS Smartt (DE-257) - (Evarts class destroyer escort)^[15]
• 1943 — USS Walter S. Brown (DE-258) - (Evarts class destroyer escort)^[15]
• 1943 — USS William C. Miller (DE-259) - (Evarts class destroyer escort)^[15]
• 1943 — USS Cabana (DE-260) - (Evarts class destroyer escort)^[15]
• 1943 — USS Dionne (DE-261) - (Evarts class destroyer escort)^[15]
• 1943 — USS Canfield (DE-262) - (Evarts class destroyer escort)^[16]
• 1943 — USS Deede (DE-263) - (Evarts class destroyer escort)^[16]
• 1943 — USS Elden (DE-264) - (Evarts class destroyer escort)^[16]
• 1943 — USS Cloues (DE-265) - (Evarts class destroyer escort)^[16]
• 1943 — USS O'Toole (DE-527) - (Evarts class destroyer escort)^[16]
• 1943 — USS John J. Powers (DE-528) - (Evarts class destroyer escort)^[16]
• 1943 — USS Mason (DE-529) - (Evarts class destroyer escort)^[16]
• 1943 — USS John M. Bermingham (DE-530) - (Evarts class destroyer escort)^[16]
• 1943 — USS Edward H. Allen (DE-531) - (John C. Butler class destroyer escort)^[17]
• 1943 — USS Tweedy (DE-532) - (John C. Butler class destroyer escort)^[17]
• 1943 — USS Howard F. Clark (DE-533) - (John C. Butler class destroyer escort)^[17]
• 1943 — USS Silverstein (DE-534) - (John C. Butler class destroyer escort)^[17]
• 1943 — USS Lewis (DE-535) - (John C. Butler class destroyer escort)^[17]
• 1943 — USS Bivin (DE-536) - (John C. Butler class destroyer escort)^[17]
• 1943 — USS Rizzi (DE-537) - (John C. Butler class destroyer escort)^[17]
• 1943 — USS Osberg (DE-538) - (John C. Butler class destroyer escort)^[17]
• 1955 — USS Wagner (DER-539) - (John C. Butler class destroyer escort)^[17]
• 1955 — USS Vandivier (DER-540) - (John C. Butler class destroyer escort)^[17]

Present day

USS Cassin Young berthed at the Boston Navy Yard

A view of the dry dock without water

The Cassin Young in drydock

The Yard closed after the Vietnam War. When ideas were floated for redevelopment of the yard, one popular idea was to have the yard turned into a construction yard for oil tankers.^[18] Ultimately, these plans fell through, and the site became part of the Boston National Historical Park. Its mission is, "to interpret the art and history of naval shipbuilding." ^[4]

The Charlestown Navy Yard hosts many attractions. The fully commissioned USS Constitution and the museum ship USS Cassin Young (DD-793) are tied up at Pier 1 and open to the public (as the Constitution is a US Navy ship, consult her official website before visiting). The Navy Yard also hosts the USS Constitution Museum. Drydock No. 1 is still used for ship maintenance, mostly on historic vessels.

The Yard is toward the North end of the Freedom Trail and is seen by thousands every year. The MBTA Water Shuttle stops at nearby Pier 3, providing easy visitor access to the Yard.

See also

Media related to Boston Navy Yard at Wikimedia Commons

• Port of Boston

External links

• Charlestown Navy Yard - Boston National Historical Park
• Charlestown Online Navy Yard website

References

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
2. ^ Charlestown Navy Yard, National Park Service
3. ^ Historic Naval Ships Association
4. ^ ^{a b c} Charlestown Navy Yard: The Shipyard on the Charles
5. ^ ^{a b} Silverstone, Paul H. U.S. Warships of World War II (1968) Doubleday & Company p.114
6. ^ ^{a b} Silverstone, Paul H. U.S. Warships of World War II (1968) Doubleday & Company p.118
7. ^ ^{a b c d} Silverstone, Paul H. U.S. Warships of World War II (1968) Doubleday & Company p.124
8. ^ ^{a b c d} Silverstone, Paul H. U.S. Warships of World War II (1968) Doubleday & Company p.126
9. ^ ^{a b} Silverstone, Paul H. U.S. Warships of World War II (1968) Doubleday & Company p.129
10. ^ ^{a b c d} Silverstone, Paul H. U.S. Warships of World War II (1968) Doubleday & Company p.132
11. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} Silverstone, Paul H. U.S. Warships of World War II (1968) Doubleday & Company p.135
12. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Silverstone, Paul H. U.S. Warships of World War II (1968) Doubleday & Company p.140
13. ^ ^{a b c} Silverstone, Paul H. U.S. Warships of World War II (1968) Doubleday & Company p.141
14. ^ ^{a b c d e} Silverstone, Paul H. U.S. Warships of World War II (1968) Doubleday & Company p.153
15. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Silverstone, Paul H. U.S. Warships of World War II (1968) Doubleday & Company p.155
16. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Silverstone, Paul H. U.S. Warships of World War II (1968) Doubleday & Company p.157
17. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} Silverstone, Paul H. U.S. Warships of World War II (1968) Doubleday & Company p.175
18. ^ "NEW ENGLAND: Bases for Sale". New England: Time Incorporated. July 1, 1974. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,942895,00.html. Retrieved 2009-11-04.