• Colonial Boston Map, Faneuil Hall and the Charlestown Navy Yard skyline

    Boston

    National Historical Park Massachusetts

Boston's Naval History

Sinking of USS Cumberland

Currier and Ives print

From its founding in 1630, Boston has always been an important port. The United States Navy recognized this in 1800 and built on the shores of nearby Charlestown one of the first six Navy Yards in the country. For nearly one hundred seventy five years Charlestown has played an important role in building, and maintaining, the United States Navy fleet.

Did You Know?

Drawing of Bunker Hill Monument under construction.

Did you know that the financing for The Bunker Hill Monument was a hand-to-mouth project, culminating in a bake sale in 1840, three years before the dedication? By contrast, The Dorchester Heights Monument was financed by an appropriation from the Massachusetts Legislature amounting to $100,000.