Overview

News Release

National Parks that Preserve or Commemorate Maritime History or Related Events

Additional National Park Sites that Preserve or Commemorate Maritime History or Related Events

National Park Service Maritime Related Projects, Programs, Publications and Web Sites

United States Navy Ships Named After National Parks or Associated with National Park Sites

United States Navy Museums

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"I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,..."
Sea Fever - John Masefield

From the beginning of human history, the sea has lured men to challenge it; and that challenge was taken up as men ventured out to sea for food and commerce, for exploration, for war, and for the pleasure of the challenge. Those who have gone to sea have been the subjects of literature, poetry, and songs. Writers and poets have done their best to articulate the draw that the sea has had on humans and to explain the awe and fear it inspires. This nation was begun by men and women venturing out on the sea to seek new beginnings, and as a nation we learned to go back out on that sea to achieve greatness.

The National Park Service has the honor of preserving and managing numerous areas and programs that commemorate Maritime History or preserve Maritime sites. The struggles, ideals, and accomplishments of this nation can be found in our Maritime History and celebrated throughout the National Park System. Our Maritime History is celebrated in areas as diverse as Boston National Historical Park in Massachusetts, Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina, Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California, and at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park in Massachusetts. National parks preserve and commemorate many sites of historical significance in the Maritime History of the United States.

Within the National Park Service there are many parks and programs that interpret the maritime heritage of the United States and address the various preservation issues associated with these unique resources. This web site provides a sampling of National Park Service sites that can help visitors gain an understanding of our Maritime History and provide a link to our past, present, and future. For a more complete list of parks and additional information about them, click on the links on the left and Celebrate Maritime History and Preservation in America’s National Parks.