All Hands on Deck at the Charlestown Navy Yard!

Charestown Navy Yard

NPS Photo

By Caroline Keinath

October has been a busy month at the National Parks of Boston’s Charlestown Navy Yard. On October 3-7, the Irish Naval ship, LE Samuel Beckett was berthed at Pier I, as part of the Visiting Ships Program. Over 5,000 visitors boarded the Beckett, as Irish sailors shared naval tales and experiences with an enthusiastic public. The USS Constitution, USS Cassin Young and LE Samuel Beckett provided the opportunity for the public to explore over 200 years of naval history, from changing technology, international relations, a sailor’s life, and experience Charlestown Navy Yard as an active shipyard.

On Thursday, October 17, 2019, National Parks of Boston held a public meeting at the Ropewalk in Charlestown Navy Yard. The historic Ropewalk, designed by architect Alexander Parris and opened in 1838, supplied all of the rope needs of the United States Navy through most of its operation. Starting in the mid 1950’s it served as a research facility to understand the properties of nylon rope. The ropewalk closed in 1971 but remains the only existing granite ropewalk building in the United States. Currently, National Parks of Boston is working with three architectural firms to consider design concepts for reimagining 2,500 square feet of space in the Ropewalk building. A part of the parks year-long community engaged creative placemaking process led by the City Parks Alliance and the Trust for Public Lands in collaboration with the National Parks Boston, the park is engaging the Charlestown community in developing ways to connect the community to the navy yard and waterfront through place based arts and cultural programming.

Rounding out the programs for the month, on October 24-27, National Parks of Boston commemorated the 75^th anniversary of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle in world history. The battle was long, complex and costly, involving fighting in the air, on land and on sea. USS Cassin Young was one of more than 200 American ships that saw action in the four day battle in the Pacific Ocean. On the morning of October 24, 1944 Japanese Navy forces torpedoed the light carrier USS Princeton which causing the torpedoes on board to explode. Retired National Park Service Ranger, Vince Kordack presented a talk about the Cassin Young coming to the aid of Princeton and rescuing more than 100 sailors from the sinking ship. Park volunteers also welcomed visitors aboard the Cassin Young for tours highlighting the rescue of the sailors aboard the USS Princeton.