After a good nights rest and breakfast we catch a cab to go to Charlestown and pick up the Freedom Trail again at The Charlestown Navy Yard. It is a beautiful morning and we are ready to go on another adventure. As we leave Boston proper we cross the Charlestown Bridge over the Charles river and we get our first glimpse of the Bunker Hill Monument high upon the hill. The first bridge was wooden and was 1,503 Feet long and supposedly the longest in the world. It was opened in1786. John Hancock was one of the investors in the private company that constructed the bride. In the area of the first bridge was where the Puritans first made a settlement. In 1629 the Puritans built a fort and the area and river were named to honor King Charles. Unfortunately these early settlers made a crucial mistake that they had no way of knowing but there was not a good source of water here and what there was did not taste good. They had to abandon this settlement and cross the river to another area which had good springs of fresh water. In the mid 1770s the town burned to the ground. Soon after crossing the bridge we come to the U. S. Navy Ship Yards Where the U. S. S. Constitution is berthed at the Boston National Historical Park / The Charlestown Navy Yard. This is now under the control of the National Park Service. For years nothing was done to update it but now a rather massive project is underway to do a lot of restoration, new sewer line and all that sort of infrastructure. There is a Museum here which is very nice a covers a lot of interesting historical facts. Permanently docked here is a destroyer and the main attraction The USS Constitution ( Old Iron Sides. ). We visited the Visitors center and looked at many artifacts, the book store and watched a short introductory movie. Unfortunately The Constitution and a navy destroyer were closed for their weekly maintenance so we could not tour these ships.
Boston National Historical Park, Charlestown Navy Yard
Boston National Historical Park, Charlestown Navy Yard
Enlargement Of Boston National Historical Park, Charlestown Navy Yard
Enlargement Of Boston National Historical Park, Charlestown Navy Yard
Enlargement Of Boston National Historical Park, Charlestown Navy Yard
U.S.S. Constitution Museum
The Navy Yard In The War Of 1812
Enlargement Of The Navy Yard In The War Of 1812
U.S.S. Constitution ( Old Iron Sides )
U.S.S. Constitution ( Old Iron Sides )
U.S.S. Constitution ( Old Iron Sides ) You Can See The Ends Of The Cannons Along The Side.
U.S.S. Constitution ( Old Iron Sides )
American Flag Flying On Old Iron Side
Close Up Of Four Of The Cannons.
The Commandant's House. This Is A 20 Room Building That Was Built In 1805 And Has Been The Home For 63 Commandants And Their Families. Five US Presidents And Many Foreign Dignitaries Have Been Entertained Here. The Home Was Remodeled In 1823 And Its Appearance Was Significantly Changed From A Solid Red Brick Exterior To The White And Brick You Now See. This new look has been much criticized.
Model Of Old Iron Side
Model Of Old Iron Side
Old Iron Sides home port has been the Charlestown Navy Yard for most of her life. It took three years to build her at a cost of over 302 thousand dollars and she was launched on 21 Oct 1797.
She normally carried 54 artillery pieces and was manned by 450 to 500 men.
President Washington signed an Act in 1794 to provide for construction of six ships to provide protection of our merchant ships from Algerian pirates as well as the British and French navies. She was fierce in battle and won battle after battle. In addition to her armament and maneuverability her construction was what gave her name of " Old Iron Sides " Her hull was partly made from live oak wood as opposed to white oak. Live Oak is much more dense and stronger. During the War of 1812, the story goes, an enemy sailor commented that the cannon balls just fall off her sides and that is how she got the name " Old Iron Sides" and the name stuck. She had many encounter with enemy vessel and won them all in resounding fashion. As with most everything advances in technology slowly made the grand old ship obsolete for warfare. She has at times been considered for demolition, she was considered at one time to be used as target practice, she was used as a floating barracks but she has endured and thankfully is still there for us to see and marvel at her beauty and long list of accomplishments as she has served our nation for over two centuries. She is still an active commissioned ship in the United States Navy
Today the U.S.S. Constitution ( Old Iron Sides ) is open for guided tours conducted by active duty U. S. Navy personnel in fact she is manned by active duty navy personnel. Each year she make trips around Boston Harbor being pushed by tugs.
Also anchored her at the Charlestown Navy Yard is the U. S. Navy Destroyer 793 Cassin Young which is also open for tour.
U. S. Navy Destroyer 793 Cassin Young
U. S. Navy Destroyer 793 Cassin Young
U. S. Navy Destroyer 793 Cassin Young
U. S. Navy Destroyer 793 Cassin Young Was Attached To Destroyer Squadron 30.
U. S. Navy Destroyer 793 Cassin Young Proudly Displaying The Ribbons She Has Earned.
U. S. Navy Destroyer Cassin Young was named after Captain Cassin Young who served at Pearl Harbor and was killed at Guadalcanal. She was built in San Pedro, California but there were other ships just like her that were built here at Charlestown during 1943 -1944. She
served with distinction in the Pacific and was twice hit by kamikaze fighters. The U.S.S. Cassin Young was mothballed in 1960.
U. S. Navy Destroyer Cassin Young was named after Captain Cassin Young who served at Pearl Harbor and was killed at Guadalcanal. She was built in San Pedro, California but there were other ships just like her that were built here at Charlestown during 1943 -1944. She
served with distinction in the Pacific and was twice hit by kamikaze fighters. The U.S.S. Cassin Young was mothballed in 1960.
Boston As Seen From The Charlestown Navy Yard
From the Charlestown Navy Yard You See Another Famous Site The Garden Where The Boston Bruins Play.
Information About Boston Harbor
Information About Boston Harbor. I Commented In Another Posting How The Shape And Size Of Boston Has Changed Over The Years And This And Following Explains How.
Information About Boston Harbor Note Number 4 And 1..
Information About Boston Harbor
Information About Boston Harbor
Information About Boston Harbor
Information About Boston Harbor
Information About Boston Harbor
Information About Boston Harbor
I need to take a few moments to comment about the Charlestown Navy Yard which has served our navy for over 170 years. The lands on which the Yard is located have figured in American history since the Revolutionary War as British troops landed here and proceeded to the battle of Breed's and Bunker's Hill. In 1800 the government bought land here which became one of the nations first Navy Yards. The yard saw activity during the Civil War with the production of many U. S. Navy vessels but World War II saw its peak of production and activity when upward of 50,000 workers were employed here. What did they do ? They built ships, repaired damaged ship and installed equipment on navy ships. During WW II the term " Rosie Riveter " or " Rosie The Riveter " became popular as it was applied to women working 6 days a week 54 hours a day in aircraft plants and navy yards. I am sure many of you have seen the WW II posters of these ladies working with their riveter guns. During WW II this facility built 159 ships and repaired over 3200. Peak production came in 1943 when 60 ships were completed. President Nixon ordered the yard closed in 1974 as a cost saving measure. I am sure you have heard the saving " it all depends on whose ox gets gored ". Well that is the case here because Massachusetts was the only state that did not vote to elect President Nixon and many people in the area have always felt the closer was in retaliation. All that aside the National Park Service has preserved a portion of our national history.
Now we exit Boston Navy Yard and pick up our Freedom Trail Marker and start the climb up to the Bunker Hill Monument. The trail winds through beautiful old homes that have been well preserved and many which are being renovated.
Now we come to Winthrop Square which is also known as the " Training Field ".
Massachusetts Gate Remembers Those Who Died Here In 1775 In The Battle On Breed's Hill
On up the hill we walk all the time seeing the rising Bunker Hill Monument
Sign About The Decisive Day
Enlargement of Sign About The Decisive Day
Plaque Telling About The Bunker Hill Monument And Battle. Here You See Those Imortal Words " Don't Fire Til You See The Whites Of Their Eyes ".
Enlargement Of Plaque Telling About The Bunker Hill Monument And Battle
Enlargement Of Plaque Telling About The Bunker Hill Monument And Battle
Enlargement Of Plaque Telling About The Bunker Hill Monument And Battle. In This View You Can See Where We Were Standing In Relation To Where We Have Visited On The Freedom Trail. In Particular Note Where Old North Church Is Located And Just North Of That Is Copp's Burying Grounds. It Was From There That British Soldiers Open Up Cannon Fire On Bunker Hill.
Enlargement Of Plaque Telling About The Bunker Hill Monument And Battle. They say that the Bunker Hill Monument looks nothing like it did when the battles were fought here. Apparently roughly 60 feet of dirt was removed from the top on this hill to fill a nearby pond
About Bunker Hill Monument
About Bunker Hill Monument
Dr. Joseph Warren Statue Stands Inside Bunker Hill Monument
Information About Dr. Joseph Warren
Enlargement Of Dr. Joseph Warren Information
Enlargement Of Dr. Joseph Warren Information
Enlargement Of Dr. Joseph Warren Information. Please Note That He Turned Down His Commission As A Major General And Fought Along Side The Troops Where He Was Killed.
He Refused The Commission Because The Official Orders Had Not Arrived.
There are stairs in the monument and you can climb to the top. They say the view is spectacular from up there. I will just have to take their word for that. I took one peak at the stairs and decided I better not try that and Joyce help talk me out of trying it. Ha. We walked back down through this section of Charlestown through streets of old beautiful houses and we came to the area of the Boston Navy Yard and there was a taxi sitting there and he took us back to our hotel where we checked out and headed for North Hampton, Massachusetts and the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum.
What a glorious day it has been and made all the more special to be in the company of Joyce and Lisa.
Until then remember what I always say God Loves You And So Do I.
Grandpa Bill
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