Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 2012 |
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| Location | 1680 Martin St Bay City, MI 48706 United States |
| Type | American history |
| Public transit access |  Bay Metro |
The Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum is a special place that honors brave veterans and teaches about the history of the United States Navy. It also highlights the Great Lakes Bay Region. The museum is located inside a real, retired Navy ship called the USS Edson, which is a type of warship known as a destroyer. You can find this museum in Bay City, Michigan, United States.
People like Mike Kegley, Richard Janke, Mary Kegley, and Mark Janke worked hard to bring this amazing destroyer to Bay City and open it as a museum. The USS Edson is the main part of the museum, but there are plans to add more exhibits in the future.
Contents
History of the USS Edson
The Ship's Story
The USS Edson was a powerful warship that joined the US Navy on November 7, 1958. It served for 30 years before it was retired on December 15, 1988. The ship was built by a company called Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. It was named after Major General Merritt Austin Edson, a very brave Marine.
The USS Edson had a crew of 17 officers and 276 other sailors. It was known for firing more five-inch shells than any other destroyer. This powerful ability earned it the motto, “Three Guns, No Waiting.” The ship is 418 feet (127 meters) long. It was powered by four large boilers that created steam for two turbines. Even though it was known for its strong firing, the USS Edson took part in two major conflicts: the Vietnam War and the Cold War.
The Ship's Big Journey
The United States Navy decided on April 24, 2012, that the USS Edson could become part of the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum. It took many years for the museum to get approval to have a retired destroyer. Mike Kegley never gave up and kept working with the Navy.
Once approved, the museum had 50 days to pick up the destroyer. It was their job to move the ship. They had to wait to get a price for two tugboats to help move the USS Edson. The ship traveled over 2,000 miles (3,219 km) from the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard to its new home in Bay City.
There was one big challenge before the ship could leave Philadelphia. The USS Edson had propeller guards. These guards protect tugboats from hitting the ship's propellers. When the ship was passing through locks near Canada, Canadian officials worried the guards might damage the locks. After a long talk, the Canadian authorities understood why the guards were needed and allowed the destroyer to continue its journey. The USS Edson is now permanently located at the Independence Park Boat Launch in Bangor Township, right next to the Independence Bridge.
Museum Location
The Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum is located in Bangor Township. It is open for everyone to visit and enjoy the activities it offers. The ship was given to the museum on April 24, 2012. It then left Philadelphia for Bay City on July 18, 2012. The USS Edson was expected to arrive at its spot on the Saginaw River on August 3, 2012. However, strong winds delayed its arrival until August 5, 2012. The USS Edson is now a floating museum that is open for tours. It is the main attraction for the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum, sitting proudly in the Saginaw River.
Amazing Volunteers
The Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum was able to get this Navy destroyer because of the huge amount of volunteer work. Board members and many other volunteers helped make it happen. They even built a permanent dock for the museum. About 140 US gallons (530 L) of paint in two shades of gray were used to paint the dock.
