Boston Naval Shipyard

History

Boston Navy Yard (also known as Charlestown Navy Yard and Boston Naval Shipyard) is a former shipyard in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston in Massachusetts, United States. One of the first shipbuilding facilities in the United States Navy, it operated from 1800 until 1 July 1974. The National Park Service (NPS) controls 25 acres (10 ha) of the decommissioned yard as part of Boston National Historical Park. Three other sections, totaling about 104 acres (42 ha), are owned by the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA). The site is a National Historic Landmark.

Plans for the yard date from 1799, soon after the Navy was established. Shipbuilding began in 1812, and a master plan in 1828 influenced the yard's mid-19th century development. The complex was modernized for the American Civil War but declined in the late 19th century as maintenance was deferred. Extensive upgrades again took place in the 1890s and 1930s. The complex became known as Boston Naval Shipyard in its final quarter-century, repairing vessels rather than building new ones. After decommissioning, the NPS and the BPDA's predecessor Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) acquired the yard. Renovation of existing buildings, and some new construction, took place in phases from the late 20th century onward, while many older buildings were redeveloped.

The yard retains more than two dozen buildings from its military era, designed in a variety of styles. These buildings, which include the Charlestown Ropewalk, Commandant's House, and Marine Barracks, have mainly been redeveloped for office, commercial, and residential use. Open spaces include a Marine parade ground and Shipyard Park. The yard also includes several gates, a street grid, eleven piers, three dry docks, and remnants of a former railroad system. Two ships are docked at the yard: Constitution (1797) and Cassin Young (1943). In the 20th century, the yard had several annexes, including South Boston Naval Annex.

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