Charlestown in Boston in Suffolk County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
Boston, the Navy Yard, and the War of 1812
Boston National Historical Park - Charlestown Navy Yard
— USS Constitution Museum; National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
When the Federal government established a navy yard in Massachusetts in 1800, it naturally looked to Boston Harbor. A thriving town of more than 34,000 people, Boston was home to hundreds of skilled ship carpenters, riggers, caulkers, and other maritime tradesmen. With such a community close at hand, the Navy established the new yard just across the Charles River on Charlestown's grassy tidal flats.
During the War of 1812, many Boston tradesmen and laborers worked to build and repair US Navy vessels. Local merchants supplied hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of timber, paint, canvas, rope, clothing, and foodstuff needed to send the ship to sea. Thousands of local men signed on as crew.
Erected by USS Constitution Museum; National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War of 1812 • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1812.
Location. 42° 22.406′ N, 71° 3.373′ W. Marker is in Boston, Massachusetts, in Suffolk County. It is in Charlestown. Marker is on 1st Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 20 1st Ave, Charlestown MA 02129, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Dry Dock 1 (within shouting distance of this marker); Serving the Fleet (within shouting distance of this marker); Flags at Sea (within shouting distance of this marker); The Changing Yard (within shouting distance of this marker); This Cannon (within shouting distance of this marker); "Old Ironsides" in Dry Dock 1 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Battle of Bunker Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); Life and Work in the Navy Yard 1812 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boston.
By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 28, 2023
Credits. This page was last revised on February 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 7, 2012, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 513 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 7, 2012, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 2. submitted on February 5, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.