Charlestown in Boston in Suffolk County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

Serving the Fleet

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 13, 2012

1. Serving the Fleet Marker

Inscription. By 1940 this navy yard supported a powerful fleet of modern steel ships. Where once carpenters, joiners, and sail- makers responded to the morning shipyard bell, now a shrill steam whistle summoned welders, boilermakers, and electronics specialists to their work stations. Engines, railways, and cranes filled the navy yard. During World War II, the navy yard built 320 vessels, docked 2,000 , outfitted 11,000 and overhauled or repaired 3,000.

Erected by Boston National Historical Park Charlestown Navy Yard -National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1940.

Location. 42° 22.421′ N, 71° 3.354′ W. Marker is in Boston, Massachusetts, in Suffolk County. It is in Charlestown. It is on 1st Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 93 Chelsea St, Charlestown MA 02129, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Massachusetts’ Historic Boston. It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Changing Yard (here, next to this marker); "Old Ironsides" in Dry Dock 1 (here, next to this marker); Flags at Sea (here, next to this marker); Dry Dock 1 (a few steps from this marker);

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Boston, the Navy Yard, and the War of 1812 (within shouting distance of this marker); Life and Work in the Navy Yard 1812 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Yard as Home (within shouting distance of this marker); Boston Naval Shipyard (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boston.

The yard in 1960 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 13, 2012

2. The yard in 1960

Larger warships meant a bigger navy yard. Bounded by the Charles and Mystic rivers and the surrounding urban community, the yard expanded into the harbor with long piers, dry docks, and shipways.

Peak Performance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 13, 2012

3. Peak Performance

In 1943 shipyard workers could build one "DE" (destroyer escort) in 4 months, and one "LST" (landing ship tank) in less than 4 weeks.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 13, 2012

4. Serving the Fleet Marker

USS Constitution Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 13, 2012

5. USS Constitution Museum

Serving the Fleet Marker-Dry Dock I-Old Iron Side in Dry Dock I-Changing the Yard Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 13, 2012

6. Serving the Fleet Marker-Dry Dock I-Old Iron Side in Dry Dock I-Changing the Yard Markers

These markers are side by side in front of Dry Dock I

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 7, 2012, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 515 times since then and 15 times this year. Last updated on February 10, 2022, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 7, 2012, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.