Charlestown Navy Yard
Established in 1800, the Charlestown Navy Yard served the American fleet throughout each of the nation’s wars until it’s closing in 1974. During this period, the navy yard produced more than two hundred warships and repaired thousands. From its inception the yard was in the forefront of shipyard technology, from building the Navy's only ropewalk to becoming a center of missile and electronics conversions. In its 174-year history, the Charlestown Navy Yard played an important role in the birth, growth, and continued effectiveness of the U.S. Navy.
When the Charlestown Navy Yard closed, 30 acres became part of Boston National Historical Park. The USS Constitution, in connection with the United States Navy, and USS Cassin Young are preserved as representatives of the kinds of vessels built during it’s the yard’s period of service.
Rob Mills, New Mexico State University
