Boston Navy Yard
Historical Site Historic naval shipyard and maritime museum complex
Charlestown’s Boston Navy Yard forms part of the city’s maritime history, home to the USS Constitution, shipyard exhibits and walking trails that explain naval construction and life.
The Boston Navy Yard (commonly called the Charlestown Navy Yard) is a historic US naval shipyard on Boston Harbor and is part of Boston National Historical Park. The site is significant for its long role in ship construction, repair and naval operations and for its surviving historic ships.
Key on-site attractions include the 18th-century frigate moored at the yard and a World War II-era destroyer preserved as a museum ship, along with historic dry docks, piers and shipyard buildings. Visitors also use the museum and visitor center for guided tours and interpretive exhibits about naval history.
The yard was established for the US Navy in the early 19th century and remained an active naval shipyard through the 20th century before Navy operations ceased in the 1970s. Over time its functions shifted from ship construction to maintenance and repair, and many structures were preserved for public interpretation.
The yard sits on the Charlestown peninsula on the north side of Boston Harbor, within the city of Boston and adjacent to the Bunker Hill Monument and Charlestown neighborhoods. It is a short distance from downtown Boston and reachable by city transit and harbor services.
- USS Constitution: The historic yard houses the frigate known as Old Ironsides, which is a highlight for ship tours and naval history interpretation.
- Access: Part of Boston National Historical Park and located on the Charlestown waterfront, it is accessible from central Boston by public transit and seasonal water shuttles.
What to See #
- USS Constitution: A late 18th-century US Navy frigate launched in 1797 that is berthed at the yard and open for seasonal guided tours and interpretive displays.
- USS Cassin Young: A World War II-era destroyer now preserved as a museum ship, representing mid-20th-century naval service and accessible on the yard's pier.
- Dry docks and shipyard structures: Historic shipyard infrastructure including dry docks and piers used for construction and repair from the 19th and 20th centuries, visible from waterfront walks.
- Visitor center and USS Constitution Museum: A museum and visitor center that interprets the history of the shipyard and the USS Constitution, located adjacent to the waterfront exhibits.
How to Get to Boston Navy Yard #
From Boston’s North Station or Haymarket, take the MBTA Orange Line to Community College and walk north (~15-20 minutes) across the Charlestown Bridge, or catch the #93 or #92 bus toward Charlestown Navy Yard. The Boston Harbor ferry (from Long Wharf) lands within a short walk of the yard.
Tips for Visiting Boston Navy Yard #
- Pick up timed-tickets for tours of USS Constitution at the adjacent museum or NPS visitor center; shipboard tours are free but limited.
- Arrive early on summer mornings to watch the morning shift of shipwrights and restoration crews - they often start before the crowds.
- Walk the granite wharf toward the bow of USS Constitution to see the scuff marks where sailors once tied ropes; it's quieter than the museum.
Best Time to Visit Boston Navy Yard #
Best visited late spring through early fall for accessible boat tours and museum programming; expect crowds in summer.
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