Fall River in Bristol County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
USS Massachusetts (BB59) Propeller
Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, March 14, 2010
1. USS Massachusetts Propeller Marker at Battleship Cove
This 38,030 pound manganese-bronze propeller was manufactured at Philadelphia Navy Yard and was removed from Battleship Massachusetts during her 1998-1999 drydocking. It is one of four. When turning at 185 revolutions per minute, they propelled the 35,000 ton ship at speeds up to 29 knots.
USS Massachusetts was built at the Bethlehem Steel Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts and was commissioned May 12, 1942. She received 11 battle stars and a Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation while operating in the Atlantic and Pacific Theatres during WWII.
"Big Mamie" was decommissioned and transferred to the Reserve Fleet in 1947. In 1965 she was enshrined here at Battleship Cove as the Commonwealth's official World War II memorial.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is May 12, 1942.
Location. 41° 42.283′ N, 71° 9.767′ W. Marker is in Fall River, Massachusetts, in Bristol County. It is on Central Street, on the right. The Marker is just south of, and almost directly beneath, the Charles S. Braga Bridge,
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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: Landing Craft (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S.S. Fall River (within shouting distance of this marker); World War II / Korean War / Vietnam War / Gulf War / September 11 (within shouting distance of this marker); PT 617/PT 796 (within shouting distance of this marker); USS Massachusetts (within shouting distance of this marker); USS Lionfish (within shouting distance of this marker); PT Boats (within shouting distance of this marker); USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in
Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, March 14, 2010
2. USS Massachusetts Propeller & Marker
One of four 5-bladed propellers from the Massachusetts dwarfs the young visitors. The Charles S. Braga Bridge is almost directly overhead on the right.
Also see . . . Battleship Cove, The world's largest naval ship museum. (Submitted on July 15, 2010, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York.)
Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, March 13, 2020
3. USS Massachusetts
This is a model of the USS Massachusetts on display onboard the ship.
Photographed by US Navy, 1942
4. The USS Massachusetts
Credits. This page was last revised on May 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 15, 2010, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 2,163 times since then and 64 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week May 11, 2025. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 15, 2010, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
