Charlestown Navy Yard

Book excerpt: The photographs in this exciting new volume illustrate the history of the Charlestown Navy Yard from the late nineteenth century through the twentieth century. Founded in 1800, the yard was one of the first military shipyards in the United States. Charlestown Navy Yard celebrates the life of the yard through one hundred years of photographs, showing the dramatic changes that took place during the transition from wood to steel ships. Charlestown Navy Yard's history is preserved in these images, which include rare views of buildings past and present and snapshots of shipyard workers in the Ropewalk, on the ships, and in the Forge Shop where die-lock chain was developed. Discover within these pages little-known facts about the people who shaped the shipyard's history and the ships that visited the yard, such as USS Albany, as well as the two historic ships at the yard--the U.S. Navy's oldest commissioned warship, USS Constitution, and the World War II destroyer,USS Cassin Young.