Fall River in Bristol County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
USS Massachusetts
BB 59
A WWII battleship packing firepower
"Big Mamie," as she was fondly known by the crew, has the distinct honor of firing the US Navy's first and last 16-inch shells in World War II. Built in Quincy, Massachusetts and commissioned in 1942, she saw 35 engagements in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. With the strenght of over 120 guns, she knocked out a French battleship, downed Japanese aircraft, and bombarded islands to clear the way for landing Allied troops.
Following the war, she proudly returned to the United States and performed routine operations until 1947. At that time, she was decommissioned and placed in an inactive reserve fleet. Struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1962, she was scheduled to be scrapped. MAssachsuetts citizens and schoolchildren raised money to save the ship and bring her to Fall River. She opened as a museum ship in 1965, the founding exhibit of Battleship Cove. Massachusetts and her sister ship Alabama are the only remaining South Dakota-class battleships.
🌲 USS Massachusetts is a National Historic Landmark
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in
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Location. 41° 42.309′ N, 71° 9.776′ W. Marker is in Fall River, Massachusetts, in Bristol County. It can be reached from Water Street west of Davol Street, in the median. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Water St, Fall River MA 02720, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the South Coast. It is also in the American Northeast, in New England, and on the Eastern Seaboard. 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: USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (here, next to this marker); USS Lionfish (here, next to this marker); PT Boats (here, next to this marker); World War II / Korean War / Vietnam War / Gulf War / September 11
Credits. This page was last revised on October 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 5, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A link to the nomination form, citing the ship's historical significance. • Can you help?
