Navy Places

Explore the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum, the first built on the Potomac River. Discover captivating exhibits on local maritime history, WWII naval presence, and the iconic lighthouse itself. Climb to the top for breathtaking views of the Potomac and its rich ecosystem. Immerse yourself in the beauty and heritage of the Chesapeake Bay watershed while uncovering the stories that shaped this remarkable area.

The 44-foot high Peace Monument stands in the circle west of the U.S. Capitol at Pennsylvania Avenue and First Street, NW. Inscribed "In memory of the officers, seamen and marines of the United States Navy who fell in defense of the Union and liberty of their country, 1861-1865," this sculptural group has also been called the Naval Monument.

John Barry (1745-1803), an Irish immigrant to the 13 colonies, served in the Continental Navy, attacking British shipping throughout the American Revolution. He was the first commissioned American naval officer, and the first flag officer.

Located at the intersection of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire Avenues in Northwest Washington, DC, Dupont Circle has served as the anchor of a neighborhood of diplomats, government officials, war commemorations, and the LGB community for over 200 years.

The oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world still calls her birthplace—Boston—home. Launched in 1797 from Hartt's shipyard in the North End, Constitution was one of six original frigates that formed the core of the fledgling United States Navy in the 1790s. During the War of 1812, she earned a legendary reputation in battle, defeating four British frigates.

The Commandant's House is one of the oldest structures in the Charlestown Navy Yard, with panoramic views of Boston Harbor. Built in 1805, the building served as the private home for the first Commandant of the Navy Yard and his family, as well as an entertainment venue for some of the highest ranking naval officers of the time. Today, the Commandant's House has been preserved by the National Park Service as part of Boston National Historical Park.

No other building in the Charlestown Navy Yard has had as many strikingly different uses as Building 5, reflecting the complexity of the 175-year history of the U.S. Navy in Boston.

Built in 1833, this row of five townhouses primarily served as the homes of naval officers and their families. Many of these officers supervised the building and repairing of ships in the Charlestown Navy Yard. Despite having a busy shipyard right outside of their front door, these residences (also known as "Captains' Row") became desirable places to live. Most families lived here for about three years, the typical length of a job assignment in the U.S. Navy.

This urn was carved from a piece of a memorial honoring the victims of the USS Maine explosion in Havana Harbor. The original memorial was destroyed in a hurricane. The refashioned urn was given to President Calvin Coolidge when he visited Cuba in 1928. The urn depicts two figures representing the United States and Cuba joining hands over a depiction of the USS Maine sinking.