United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum
USS Salem (CA-139)
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| Established | January 7, 1993 |
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| Location | Quincy, Massachusetts |
| Coordinates | 42°14′39″N 70°58′12″W / 42.244035°N 70.969888°W |
| Type | Museum ship |
| Public transit access |
Quincy Center (MBTA station) MBTA Bus Routes 220, 221, 222 (schedules) |
| Website | Official website |
The United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum is a private non-profit museum in Quincy, Massachusetts featuring USS Salem (CA-139), a heavy cruiser docked at the former Fore River Shipyard where she was laid down in 1945. The museum was established in 1993, in response to efforts by local officials and volunteers to revive the shipyard area after operations at Fore River ended in 1986. Several exhibits on board Salem relating to United States naval history and shipbuilding are featured along with dockside fixtures and a miniature golf course.
In 1986, General Dynamics Corporation shut down its shipbuilding facility at Weymouth Fore River in Quincy, signaling the end of a 102 year history of shipbuilding operations along the Fore River and 85 years at the site in Quincy Point. Various plans were offered at the time for use of the shipyard, but in 1992, a group of volunteers came up with one partial solution: the purchase and relocation of a ship built at the shipyard to be reborn as a museum celebrating the history of the yard. With help from local officials, the museum was established in 1993 by an act of the Massachusetts General Court to "acquire, refurbish and maintain United States naval ships and the adjacent physical complex in order that it will [serve] as a major attraction for local citizens and tourists." After earlier attempts to obtain use of USS Lexington (CV-16), in 1994 the city and the volunteer group successfully negotiated the relocation of Salem from Philadelphia with the Naval Sea Systems Command. On 30 October 1994, Salem returned to Quincy to be permanently docked where she was built nearly five decades before.
With a length of 717 feet (219 m), Salem provides a large amount of space for museum exhibits and casual exploration by visitors. The Admiral's and Captain's Bridge, Number Three Turret, Second Deck (crew quarters) and Main Deck of Salem are features of the ship proper which are open to visitors. There are also individual exhibits within the ship including the Cruiser Sailor Museum and a substantial model ship collection.
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