Philadelphia Naval Shipyard

The site sits where the Schuylkill River meets the Delaware and covers a large area with buildings from different periods. Brick structures in Victorian style stand next to newer halls of steel and concrete, with wide streets and wharves running between them.

The site was established in 1801 and moved to the League Island area in 1876, where it grew rapidly. During World War II many ships and aircraft parts were made here before the facility lost its military role in the 1990s.

The name League Island recalls a former island in the Delaware River that was later connected to the mainland. Today people from the region work in the workshops and offices where ships are built and companies are based.

The area is now a business district with private companies and an engineering systems station, and access is partly restricted. Visitors should check in advance which sections are open to the public and whether tours are offered.

The site introduced floating dry docks, an innovation in shipbuilding that was later adopted worldwide. During the war years not only ships were launched here, but propellers for aircraft were also made in the workshops.

Location: Philadelphia

Inception: 1801

Architects: Robert Peary

Architectural style: modern architecture, Victorian architecture

Industry: shipbuilding

Website: http://navyyard.org

GPS coordinates: 39.89000,-75.18000

Latest update: December 13, 2025 18:54