America’s Shipyard: 10 Ships That Shaped a Nation Exhibit

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum

Celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary by exploring America’s Shipyard, a powerful new Sail250® Virginia exhibit about the Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s critical role in American history. From the first dry dock in the Western Hemisphere to the groundbreaking ships that changed naval warfare forever, the shipyard has served as a vital pillar of America’s national defense for over two centuries. 

America’s Shipyard examines 10 of the most important ships built, repaired or modernized there, each ship representing a major first, a breakthrough, or a turning point in American Naval history. You’ll also discover how generations of skilled shipyard workers shaped the city of Portsmouth, Hampton Roads, and the entire nation, and how the shipyard is still making history today. Don’t miss it!