A Brief History of the Boston Navy Yard

A Brief History of the Boston Navy Yard Today part of the land formerly of this navy yard (about 30 acres or 120,000 square meters) is controlled by the Boston National Historical Park under the administration of the United States National Park Service. Boston Navy Yard Type     Shipyard Historical Name of Location     Boston, …

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A Brief History of the Boston Navy Yard

The Boston Navy Yard on a war footing. Photograph shows new planking of Pier 6BOSTS 8756-2263

Today part of the land formerly of this navy yard (about 30 acres or 120,000 square meters) is controlled by the Boston National Historical Park under the administration of the United States National Park Service.

Boston Navy Yard

Type   Shipyard
Historical Name of Location   Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe Charlestown Navy Yard was originally established in 1801, and it launched the very first domestically built warship, USS Independence. By the turn of the century, expanded to two drydocks, the facility had been renamed Boston Navy Yard. Boston Navy Yard built several US and British destroyers, destroyer escorts, frigates, landing ships, and other small warships, and it also served as a major repair yard for damaged ships. After the war, she saw service modernizing WW2-era ships during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, but its relative importance diminished due to its location, far away from the conflict zones in Asia. Boston Navy Yard was closed in 1974. Today part of the land formerly of this navy yard (about 30 acres or 120,000 square meters) is controlled by the Boston National Historical Park under the administration of the United States National Park Service. Now known by its original name, Charlestown Navy Yard hosts the museum ships USS Constitution and Cassin Young, and it displays the bell of USS Boston.

ww2dbase.com
Source: Wikipedia

At the turn of the 20th century, the Boston Navy Yard entered its second century of service by embarking on its first major expansion since the Civil War.

This growth was in line with the goals of President Theodore Roosevelt’s administration, which wanted the United States Navy to expand and modernize, heralding the emergence of America as a world power.

In Boston several new buildings and a second dry dock were built to meet the demands of the growing fleet that it served.

The Charlestown Navy Yard was originally established in 1801, and it launched the very first domestically built warship, USS Independence.

By the turn of the century, expanded to two drydocks, the facility had been renamed Boston Navy Yard.

Boston Navy Yard built several US and British destroyers, destroyer escorts, frigates, landing ships, and other small warships, and it also served as a major repair yard for damaged ships.

After the war, she saw service modernizing WW2-era ships during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, but its relative importance diminished due to its location, far away from the conflict zones in Asia. Boston Navy Yard was closed in 1974.

The Boston Navy Yard hosts the museum ships USS Constitution and Cassin Young, and it displays the bell of USS Boston.

By David Hannigan, Park Guide