Fall River, MA: Battleship Cove and the USS Massachusetts WWII Battleship

(Satellite)

Battleship Cove posted

12 June 1965: BIG MAMIE COMES HOME

It was a close call.... the US Navy demanded $100,000 to tow USS Massachusetts from Portsmouth, VA by any group who wanted the ship now that she was declared stricken and ready for scrap. The City of Boston and other waterfront municipalities did not want her.

With no money yet available, former crewmembers joined by other veterans and the Narragansett Brewery of Cranston, RI began a campaign that would see thousands of school children from across the state donate their change to bring BIG MAMIE home to the people who built her.

With the City of Fall River stepping up when our hometown battleship needed them most and with funds coming in from across the state, the Navy signed an agreement releasing the veteran ship to a newly incorporated association.

On 12 June in 1965, USS Massachusetts was cheered by over 500,000 people along the shores of Narragansett Bay and the Taunton River to her new home in Fall River, MA.

Thank you to the school children of Massachusetts, the visionaries who fought to save a veteran ship, and the powers that be of Fall River who enabled millions of New Englanders to explore, enjoy, and remember the sacrifice of a generation.

Also, Thank you to all in New England and across America who continue to visit and support YOUR BIG MAMIE. She continues to need your support so generations can continue to visit and enjoy her as we do.

BIG MAMIE belongs to ALL of US.

Battleship Cove posted

14 August 1965: BIG MAMIE comes Home.

After an amazing effort by school children, veterans, civic leaders, and the support of Narragansett Brewery, USS Massachusetts BB-59 comes home for good to the state that built her and the people who love her.

BIG MAMIE is the only battleship to be named for, built, and preserved in her home state but she helps represent everyone in New England and the fighting spirit of the United States during World War II.

Battleship Massachusetts is undergoing repairs and enhancements to support the long term preservation of this memorial. Please pardon our appearance when you visit. We promise that major efforts are planned and being executed for this amazing ship.

Thanks to BIG MAMIE supporter Bill Soares for reminding us of this photo as we near the homecoming anniversary date!

At first I thought the photo was of the ship that is preserved at this former Quincy, MA, shipyard. (That is the shipyard that built the ship. By "hometown battleship," they must have meant the state of Massachusetts, not the town.) But I could not find the cantilever bridge in Quincy, MA. So I looked some more and found this bridge. Google Maps' description for Battleship Cove is: "World's largest collection of US naval ships includes a WWII battleship housing a maritime museum."

BattleshipCove