Charlestown Navy Yard Reactivation

The National Park Service, in partnership with the US Navy and the USS Constitution Museum, has developed a Master Development Strategy for the Charlestown Navy Yard intended to improve the visitor experience and address deferred maintenance of buildings and facilities within the yard.

Updates

On January 4, 2023, the National Park Service published the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Master Development Strategy. Join us for a public meeting on January 18, 2023 at 6:30 pm. See the park's press release for more information about the EA and how to register for this virtual meeting. The release of the EA also opens a 30 day public comment period. We look forward to seeing and hearing from you about the project.

Why here?

The Charlestown Waterfront has been a gateway for hundreds of years, undergoing constant evolution. During the most recent two centuries, the area primarily became a hub of shipbuilding, trade, and national defense. Today, the Navy Yard Partners see an opportunity to create a place to tell these stories with our neighbors and visitors, and preserve that past for the future.

Duration:

5 minutes, 39 seconds

Constantly evolving, the Charlestown waterfront serves as a place where millions come to work, visit, play, and remember. Learn about the past, present, and future of this special place.

What will the Gateway Center and the Master Development Strategy accomplish?

The story of the Navy Yard is unique to Charlestown and Boston. Home to USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world, the ship is docked in a place that was a place of innovation and dedication. Dry Dock 1, the Ropewalk, and the Chain Forge are surviving examples of the work required to build and maintain a Navy from the age of sail to the age of steam and steel. The vision for a new visitor experience and a gateway center will enable the National Park Service, USS Constitution Museum, and USS Constitution to better tell the stories of the nation's past for generations to come.

Duration:

9 minutes, 33 seconds

Every day the Navy Yard Partners—the National Parks of Boston, USS Constitution Museum, USS CONSTITUTION, and Naval History & Heritage Command Detachment Boston—interpret history, run programs, and host events. The collaborative is now in the midst of a bold new plan to better serve the community by re-imagining the visitor experience.

How did we get here?

The StoryMaps below explore the process the Navy Yard Partners have undertaken since 2017 to reimagine the experience at the Charlestown Navy Yard. The most ambitious aspect of the project looks to repurpose the site of the Hoosac Stores building as a new Gateway Center.

StoryMap:

The History of the Hoosac Building

Learn more and get involved

View all the published documents and past phases of this ongoing project. Comment periods on this park planning portal enable the public to respond and provide feedback.

Related Documents, Links, & Info

CNY Master Development Strategy