Boston Navy Yard, Maritime museum in Charlestown district, Boston, US
Boston Navy Yard is a shipbuilding and naval facility in Charlestown that spreads across about 30 acres along Boston Harbor. The site features two museum ships, multiple heritage buildings, and workshops that tell the story of American naval shipbuilding.
The shipyard was founded in 1800 and continuously built and maintained naval vessels for nearly two centuries. It ceased operations as an active military facility in 1974 but was preserved as a historic site.
For generations, skilled workers like rope makers and metal workers shaped how American ships were built and maintained at this location. You can still see their craftsmanship reflected in the buildings and equipment that remain today.
The grounds are open to the public and maintained by the National Park Service, so you can walk around freely. Guided tours of the ships and buildings are offered regularly to help you understand what you are seeing.
Dry Dock Number 1, built in 1833, is still used today to maintain USS Constitution, the oldest active warship in the United States Navy. This continuous use over nearly two centuries makes it a remarkable example of unbroken tradition.
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