Portsmouth Navy Yard
| Portsmouth Naval Shipyard | |
|---|---|
| Seavey's Island, Kittery, Maine | |
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in 2004
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| Coordinates | 43°4′44″N 70°44′3″W / 43.07889°N 70.73417°WCoordinates: 43°4′44″N 70°44′3″W / 43.07889°N 70.73417°W |
| Type | Shipyard |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | United States Navy |
| Open to the public |
no |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1800 |
| In use | 1800–Present |
| Battles/wars | |
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Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
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| Location | Seavey Island, Kittery, Maine |
| Area | 54 acres (22 ha) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Greek Revival |
| NRHP Reference # | 77000141 |
| Added to NRHP | November 17, 1977 |
| Garrison information | |
| Current commander |
Capt. William Greene |
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNS), often called the Portsmouth Navy Yard, is a United States Navy shipyard located in Kittery on the southern boundary of Maine near the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. PNS is tasked with the overhaul, repair, and modernization of US Navy submarines. The facility is sometimes confused with the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia.
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard was established on June 12, 1800 during the administration of President John Adams, and is the U.S. Navy's oldest continuously operating shipyard. It sits on a cluster of conjoined islands called Seavey's Island in the Piscataqua River, whose swift tidal current prevents ice from blocking navigation to the Atlantic Ocean.
The area has a long tradition of shipbuilding. Since colonial settlement, New Hampshire and Maine forests provided lumber for wooden boat construction. HMS Falkland was commissioned here in 1696, considered the first British warship built in the Thirteen Colonies. The Royal Navy reserved the tallest and straightest Eastern White Pine trees for masts, emblazing the bark with a crown symbol. During the Revolution, the Raleigh was built in 1776 on Badger's Island in Kittery, and became the first vessel to fly an American flag into battle. Raleigh has been depicted on the Seal of New Hampshire since 1784, even though she was captured and served in the British Navy. Other warships followed, including Ranger launched in 1777 and commanded by Captain John Paul Jones. It became the first U. S. Navy vessel to receive an official salute at sea from a foreign power.
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