United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum
Encyclopedia
The United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum is a private non-profit museum in Quincy, Massachusetts
featuring USS Salem (CA-139)
, a heavy cruiser
docked at the former Fore River Shipyard
where she was laid down in 1945. The museum was established in 1993 in response to efforts by local officials and volunteers to revive the shipyard area after operations at Fore River ended in 1986. Several exhibits on board Salem relating to United States naval history and shipbuilding are featured along with dockside fixtures and a miniature golf
course.
in Quincy, signaling the end of a 102 year history of shipbuilding operations along the Fore River and 85 years at the site in Quincy Point
. Various plans were offered at the time for use of the shipyard, however in 1992 a group of volunteers came up with one partial solution: the purchase and relocation of a ship built at the shipyard to be reborn as a museum celebrating the history of the yard. With help from local officials, the museum was established in 1993 by an act of the Massachusetts General Court
to "acquire, refurbish and maintain United States naval ships and the adjacent physical complex in order that it will service as a major attraction for local citizens and tourists." After earlier attempts to obtain use of USS Lexington (CV-16)
, in 1994 the city and the volunteer group successfully negotiated the relocation of Salem from Philadelphia with the Naval Sea Systems Command
. On 30 October 1994 Salem returned to Quincy to be permanently docked where she was built nearly five decades before.
The history of large cruisers like Salem is also addressed. Exhibits featuring USS Newport News (CA-148)
, the last of the Des Moines class
cruisers, and USS Saint Paul (CA-73)
, a Baltimore class
cruiser also built at Fore River are on board. A portion of the museum is devoted to a display of Navy SEAL
history. Researchers can request access to extensive military archives and a collection of naval armaments and memorabilia.
Outside the realm of military history, the museum takes advantage of the history of the city which gave the ship its name, Salem, Massachusetts
, famous for the witch trials
of the late 17th century, by offering holiday themed tours and overnight stays during Halloween
. Overnight stays are also available throughout the year for those interested in life aboard a Navy ship. Adjacent to the ship there is an eighteen hole miniature golf course. Operated by the museum, "Kilroy's Mini Golf" is named in honor of James J. Kilroy, a worker at the shipyard who is often cited as the origin of the famous "Kilroy was here
" graffiti.
Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...
featuring USS Salem (CA-139)
USS Salem (CA-139)
The third USS Salem is a Des Moines-class heavy cruiser, formerly commissioned in the United States Navy. The world's last all-gun heavy cruiser to enter commission, she is currently open to the public as a museum ship in Quincy, Massachusetts.-Construction and shakedown:Salem was laid down on 4...
, a heavy cruiser
Heavy cruiser
The heavy cruiser was a type of cruiser, a naval warship designed for long range, high speed and an armament of naval guns roughly 203mm calibre . The heavy cruiser can be seen as a lineage of ship design from 1915 until 1945, although the term 'heavy cruiser' only came into formal use in 1930...
docked at the former Fore River Shipyard
Fore River Shipyard
The Fore River Shipyard of Quincy, Massachusetts, more formally known as the Fore River Ship and Engine Building Company, was a shipyard in the United States from 1883 until 1986. Located on the Weymouth Fore River, the yard began operations in 1883 in Braintree, Massachusetts before being moved...
where she was laid down in 1945. The museum was established in 1993 in response to efforts by local officials and volunteers to revive the shipyard area after operations at Fore River ended in 1986. Several exhibits on board Salem relating to United States naval history and shipbuilding are featured along with dockside fixtures and a miniature golf
Miniature golf
Miniature golf, or minigolf, is a miniature version of the sport of golf. While the international sports organization World Minigolf Sport Federation prefers to use the name "minigolf", the general public in different countries has also many other names for the game: miniature golf, mini-golf,...
course.
History
In 1986, General Dynamics Corporation shut down its shipbuilding facility at Weymouth Fore RiverWeymouth Fore River
Weymouth Fore River is a small bay or estuary in eastern Massachusetts and is part of the Massachusetts Bay watershed.The headwater of Weymouth Fore River is formed by the confluence of the Monatiquot River and Smelt Brook in the Weymouth Landing area of Braintree...
in Quincy, signaling the end of a 102 year history of shipbuilding operations along the Fore River and 85 years at the site in Quincy Point
Quincy Point
Quincy Point is a neighborhood of Quincy, Massachusetts. "The Point" is generally defined as the land east of Quincy Center, the downtown district. Quincy Point is bordered on the west by Elm Street, on the east by Weymouth Fore River and the Braintree city line, on the north by Town River and on...
. Various plans were offered at the time for use of the shipyard, however in 1992 a group of volunteers came up with one partial solution: the purchase and relocation of a ship built at the shipyard to be reborn as a museum celebrating the history of the yard. With help from local officials, the museum was established in 1993 by an act of the Massachusetts General Court
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
to "acquire, refurbish and maintain United States naval ships and the adjacent physical complex in order that it will service as a major attraction for local citizens and tourists." After earlier attempts to obtain use of USS Lexington (CV-16)
USS Lexington (CV-16)
USS Lexington , known as "The Blue Ghost", is one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. The ship, the fifth US Navy ship to bear the name, is named in honor of the Revolutionary War Battle of Lexington...
, in 1994 the city and the volunteer group successfully negotiated the relocation of Salem from Philadelphia with the Naval Sea Systems Command
Naval Sea Systems Command
The Naval Sea Systems Command is the largest of the U.S. Navy's five "systems commands," or materiel organizations...
. On 30 October 1994 Salem returned to Quincy to be permanently docked where she was built nearly five decades before.
Exhibits and attractions
With a length of 717 feet (218.5 m), Salem provides a large amount of space for museum exhibits and casual exploration by visitors. The Admiral's and Captain's Bridge, Number Three Turret, Second Deck (crew quarters) and Main Deck of Salem are features of the ship proper which are open to visitors. There are also individual exhibits within the ship including the Cruiser Sailor Museum and a substantial model ship collection.The history of large cruisers like Salem is also addressed. Exhibits featuring USS Newport News (CA-148)
USS Newport News (CA-148)
The second USS Newport News was a in the United States Navy. Newport News was laid down 1 November 1945; launched on 6 March 1948 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia. The vessel was sponsored by Mrs. Homer L. Ferguson upon commissioning on 29 January 1949,...
, the last of the Des Moines class
Des Moines class cruiser
The Des Moines class cruisers were a group of U.S. Navy heavy cruisers, commissioned in 1948–1949. They were the last of the all-gun heavy cruisers, exceeded in size in the American navy only by the cruisers.-Description:...
cruisers, and USS Saint Paul (CA-73)
USS Saint Paul (CA-73)
USS Saint Paul , a Baltimore-class cruiser, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for St. Paul, Minnesota....
, a Baltimore class
Baltimore class cruiser
The Baltimore class cruiser was a type of heavy cruiser in the United States Navy from the last years of the Second World War. Fast and heavily armed, ships like the Baltimore cruisers were mainly used by the Navy in World War II to protect the fast aircraft carriers in carrier battle groups...
cruiser also built at Fore River are on board. A portion of the museum is devoted to a display of Navy SEAL
United States Navy SEALs
The United States Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force and a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command as well as the maritime component of the United States Special Operations Command.The acronym is derived from their...
history. Researchers can request access to extensive military archives and a collection of naval armaments and memorabilia.
Outside the realm of military history, the museum takes advantage of the history of the city which gave the ship its name, Salem, Massachusetts
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
, famous for the witch trials
Salem witch trials
The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings before county court trials to prosecute people accused of witchcraft in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Middlesex in colonial Massachusetts, between February 1692 and May 1693...
of the late 17th century, by offering holiday themed tours and overnight stays during Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
. Overnight stays are also available throughout the year for those interested in life aboard a Navy ship. Adjacent to the ship there is an eighteen hole miniature golf course. Operated by the museum, "Kilroy's Mini Golf" is named in honor of James J. Kilroy, a worker at the shipyard who is often cited as the origin of the famous "Kilroy was here
Kilroy was here
Kilroy was here is an American popular culture expression, often seen in graffiti. Its origins are debated, but the phrase and the distinctive accompanying doodle—a bald-headed man with a prominent nose peeking over a wall with the fingers of each hand clutching the wall—is widely known among U.S...
" graffiti.
See also
- Portsmouth Naval Shipyard MuseumPortsmouth Naval Shipyard MuseumThe Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum and the associated Lightship Museum are located at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia, USA. The shipyard is America's oldest and largest naval shipyard, located on the Portsmouth Waterfront...
- U.S. Navy museums
- Other naval museums in the United States