United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum facts for kids
USS Salem (CA-139)
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| Established | January 7, 1993 |
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| Location | Quincy, Massachusetts |
| Type | Museum ship |
| Public transit access | Quincy Center (MBTA station) MBTA bus routes 220, 221, 222 (schedules) |
The United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum is a special museum in Quincy, Massachusetts. It's a private, non-profit place that lets you explore a real warship! The main attraction is the USS Salem (CA-139). This huge ship is a heavy cruiser that is now docked where it was first built. The museum opened in 1993. It helps people learn about the history of the United States Navy and how ships are made.
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Discover the USS Salem Museum
The USS Salem is a big ship, about 717 feet long. That's longer than two football fields! It offers lots of space for cool exhibits and for you to explore. You can walk through different parts of the ship. These include the Admiral's and Captain's Bridge. You can also see the Number Three Turret. This is where a large gun would have been. The Second Deck, where the crew lived, is also open. You can even walk on the Main Deck.
A Ship's Journey Home
The area where the museum is located used to be a very busy place. It was called the Fore River Shipyard. For over 100 years, many ships were built there. But in 1986, the shipyard closed down. This was a sad moment for the town of Quincy.
However, a group of volunteers had a great idea. They wanted to bring a ship built at the shipyard back home. Their goal was to turn it into a museum. This museum would celebrate the shipyard's long history. With help from local leaders, the museum officially started in 1993.
After some planning, the city and volunteers got permission. They could bring the USS Salem from Philadelphia. On October 30, 1994, the Salem returned to Quincy. It was docked permanently right where it was built almost 50 years before.
Explore the Ship and Its Stories
Inside the USS Salem, you'll find many interesting exhibits. One is the Cruiser Sailor Museum. It shows what life was like for sailors on these big ships. There's also a large collection of detailed model ships. These models show different types of naval vessels.
You can also learn about the history of large cruisers. There are exhibits honoring other ships. These include the USS Newport News (CA-148) and the USS Saint Paul (CA-73). The Saint Paul was also built at the Fore River Shipyard. A special part of the museum tells the story of the Navy SEALs. These are highly trained special forces.
The museum also connects to the city of Salem, Massachusetts. This city is famous for the witch trials from the 1600s. Because of this, the museum offers special tours around Halloween. You can even stay overnight on the ship! This is a unique way to experience what life might have been like on a Navy ship. Overnight stays are available throughout the year.
Next to the ship, there used to be a fun miniature golf course. It was called "Kilroy's Mini Golf." It was named after James J. Kilroy. He was a worker at the shipyard. He is famous for the "Kilroy was here" graffiti.
See also
- Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum
- U.S. Navy museums
- Other naval museums in the United States
