Hope Village in Portsmouth, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Norfolk Naval Shipyard

“Hammerhead Crane”

— Path of History Portsmouth, VA —

Norfolk Naval Shipyard Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, September 1, 2014

1. Norfolk Naval Shipyard Marker

Inscription. Built between December 1939 and June 1940, this 20-story crane can lift 350 tons. The Hammerhead is the largest crane of its type in the world. Its uses have included lifting a tugboat from the water, hoisting 16-inch gun turrets onto battleships and removing a superstructure from a Liberty Ship. The small crane atop the Hammerhead can lift 25 tons and is used primarily for repair of the main Hammerhead crane. This Portsmouth landmark is still used today for various assignments.

(captions)
(left) Hammerhead crane 110 easily loaded this tug on the USS Tarheel Mariner in April 1953.
(center) Hammerhead crane 110 hoists a 16-inch gun turret destined for action aboard the battleship Alabama.
(right) The guided missile cruiser Long Beach, the first nuclear powered surface warship in the world, arrived at NNSY in January 1964 for a post-shakedown availability.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1964.

Location. 36° 49.663′ N, 76° 17.823′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, Virginia. It is in Hope Village. It can be reached from Lincoln Street east of 3rd Street, on the left when traveling east. Located in Gosport Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Portsmouth VA 23704, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Hampton Roads,

specifically in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

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 the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Norfolk Naval Shipyard (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Norfolk Naval Shipyard (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Norfolk Naval Shipyard (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Norfolk Naval Shipyard (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Norfolk Naval Shipyard (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Norfolk Naval Shipyard (within shouting distance of this marker); Sail portion of the USS Thomas Jefferson (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Norfolk Naval Shipyard (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portsmouth.

Norfolk Naval Shipyard Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, September 1, 2014

2. Norfolk Naval Shipyard Markers

Credits. This page was last revised on October 26, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 4,670 times since then and 178 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 2, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 2. submitted on September 3, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.