Building 10

Building 10 has served several purposes over the years at the Navy Yard

NPS Photo/Parrow

Quick Facts

Location:

Pier 1, Charlestown Navy Yard

Significance:

19th-century brick structure whose uses evolved to encompass major technological advances including radio communications and sonar.

OPEN TO PUBLIC:

No

Building 10, now the Shipyard Galley, has been the site of many different activities, reflecting the changing needs of the Charlestown Navy Yard since 1853. During its first 50 years, Building 10 was known as the Pitch House, where workers produced the tar that helped keep sailing ships watertight. At the turn of the 20th century, the Pitch House became the Paint Shop. For ten years, staff of Building 10 mixed gallons of paint. They used this paint to help preserve wooden and metal ships.

The role of the building shifted in 1911 when Building 10 became a radio-transmitter station for messages to ships at sea. For example, in April 1912, sailors sent a message from U.S. President Taft to the rescue ships of the Titanic. Starting in 1918 and throughout World War II, Building 10 served as the Laundry, where civilians and sailors cleaned the clothing of navy personnel and their families.

In 1948, the use of this two-story, Federalist-style building changed again to become a sonar equipment testing and repair facility. The Navy expanded Building 10 by adding 2 bays on its north side for the sonar tasks.

Building 10 took on its last naval function in 1958. When the sonar program re-located, this building converted into a charging station for ship batteries. Building 10 charged batteries for about 15 years until 1972, two years before the federal government closed the Charlestown Navy Yard.

In 1973, Building 10 reopened as the USS Constitution Museum because of its close location to the USS Constitution. When the Museum moved into its current location in 1976, Building 10 became the Shipyard Galley.

Learn More...

USS Constitution Museum: Building 10 - Pitch House and Oakum Loft
Charlestown Navy Yard: Building 10

Sources

• Black, Frederick R. and Edwin C. Bears. The Charlestown Navy Yard 1842-1890. Boston, MA: Boston National Historical Park, National Park Service, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, 1993.
• Carlson, Stephen P. Charlestown Navy Yard Historic Resource Study, Vol 1-3. Boston, MA: Division of Cultural Resources Boston National Historical Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior, 2010.
• National Park Service, Boston National Historical Park. "National Register of Historic Places Inventory, Charlestown Navy Yard Nomination Form (1978)." In Boston National Historical Park, Charleston Navy Yard Boundary Enlargement Report. Denver: Denver Service Center, National Park Service, 1979.