Part 1 The Making of a Navy
In 1803, U.S.S. Constitution was careened at a Boston wharf for recoppering before sailing for the Mediterranean to confront the Barbary States.
U.S. Naval Shipyards
Puget Sound Washington 1891-present Rebuilt five battleships damaged during 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Mare Island California 1853-1996 Established for naval expansion into Pacific. Hunter’s Point California 1939-1974 Repaired 600 ships during WW II. Long Beach California 1935-50; 1951-98 Reactivated for Korean War. In 1982, modernized battleship New Jersey for missiles. Pearl Harbor Hawaii 1900-present Serviced growing Pacific fleet after Spanish-American War. Damaged by Japanese air attack in 1941. Mound City Illinois 1862-74 Repair facility for Union’s Mississippi Squadron during Civil War. Pensacola Florida 1825-1911 Burned by Confederates during Civil War. Has served as air training facility since yard closing. Charleston South Carolina 1901-96 Specialized in the construction of destroyer escorts and LSTs in WW II. Strategically located Great Lakes shipyards built gunboats and sloops during the War of 1812. Presque Isle Pennsylvania 1812-25 Sackets Harbor New York 1812-1870s Washington District of Columbia 1800-83 Brooklyn New York 1800-1966 Portsmouth New Hampshire 1800-present Philadelphia Pennsylvania 1801-1995 Charlestown Massachusetts 1800-1974 Norfolk Virginia 1801-present Of the six original navy yards, only Norfolk and Portsmouth still service naval vessels. New London Connecticut 1868-83 During WW I was developed as major submarine base.