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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # 80-G-454990:  Washington Navy Yard, D.C., 18 December 1918

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PLACES -- UNITED STATES -- WASHINGTON, D.C.

Washington Navy Yard, Naval Gun Factory and Naval Weapons Plant --
Overall Views -- 1900-1939

During the Twentieth Century's first two decades, the Washington Navy Yard grew to the west and east, more than doubling its Nineteenth Century size. The first expansion, to westward in 1902, permitted the construction of a powerplant and more factory buildings to support the needs of a rapidly-growing Navy. As the First World War approached in 1916, another westward land acquisition took place and during 1917-18 the yard's limits were pushed eastward. Thus, a facility that in 1900 ran from about from Sixth Street to Ninth Street, now stretched all the way from Third to Eleventh.

New structures, most of them quite large, were steadily erected on the new lands and significant changes were made within the previous Navy Yard limits. The two big wooden ship houses were demolished by 1901, to be replaced by newer buildings and storage yards. The fancy pre-Civil War foundry was razed just after World War I, and many of its contemporaries went even earlier, victims of a need for more efficient use of the available space. Other old buildings were modified almost beyond recognition.

Big smokestacks still bore witness to coal's vital role in the facility's primary function, the manufacture of Naval guns. However, two other tall structures, steel radio antenna towers in the Yard's southern regions, showed the importance of new technologies. During the 1930s, these towers demonstrated the volatility of "hi-tech", as they were torn down, made obsolete by radio's rapid progress.

The 1930s also provided fresh evidence of the undiminished force of Mother Nature, when serious Potomac River flooding raised the water level of its Anacostia branch. Much of the Navy Yard's waterfront area was thus periodically, though briefly, inundated. This problem would continue into the following decades, with the modern high-water-mark established in 1942.

This page features overall views of the Washington Navy Yard taken from about 1900 to 1939.

For links to other overall views of the Washington Navy Yard, see:

  • Washington Navy Yard -- Overall Views -- 19th Century.

    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 93333

    USS Dolphin
    (1885-1922)

    Docked at the western end of the Washington Navy Yard waterfront, District of Columbia, circa 1901. The view looks north. The old experimental battery building is at the right.

    The original glass plate negative is # 19-N-24-2-24 in the collections of the National Archives. Plate # 19-N-24-3-5 is a very similar view.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 93332

    Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia


    View of the west-central part of the Navy Yard waterfront, looking about NNE, circa 1901. The old experimental battery structure is in the center of the view.
    The ship at left is USS Dolphin.

    The original glass plate negative is # 19-N-24-2-23 in the collections of the National Archives. Plate # 19-N-24-3-1 is a very similar view.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 60KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 93331

    Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia


    View of the center area of the Navy Yard waterfront, looking about NNW, circa 1899-1900. The old experimental battery structure is near the left side of the view, and the Commandant's Office (Building # 1) is at the right.
    The tug in left center is possibly USS Triton. A yacht and another small steamer are moored in the basin in right center.

    The original glass plate negative is # 19-N-24-2-22 in the collections of the National Archives.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 530 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 93336

    Navy Steam Launch


    Lying to off the eastern end of the Washington Navy Yard waterfront, District of Columbia, circa 1899. She is flying a 13-star "boat" flag.
    Among the buildings in the background are the Commandant's Office (Building # 1) near the left side of the view, the Experimental Model Basin (Building # 70) in the center, and the eastern shiphouse just beyond and toward the right.
    Note the large crane and coal pile near the waterfront, at left.

    The original glass plate negative is # 19-N-24-3-7 in the collections of the National Archives.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 93334

    Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia


    View of the eastern part of the Navy Yard waterfront, looking north, circa 1901. The Experimental Model Basin (Building 70) is in the left center, with the new Building 101 beyond it.
    The small ship in the basin in right center is USS Sylph.

    The original glass plate negative is # 19-N-24-2-21 in the collections of the National Archives. Plate # 19-N-24-3-3 and 24-3-4 are very similar views.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 525 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 93335

    Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia


    View looking north from off the eastern end of the Navy Yard waterfront, circa 1901. The Experimental Model Basin (Building 70) is in the left center, with the new Building 101 beyond and to the right. The small triangular structure in front of Building 101's west wing is the old eastern shiphouse in the final stages of demolition.
    The small ship in the basin in right center is USS Sylph.
    The tug Mohawk is at left.

    The original glass plate negative is # 19-N-24-3-2 in the collections of the National Archives.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-454990

    Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia


    Aerial view of the main part of the Navy Yard, looking north (and a little west) from over the Anacostia River, 18 December 1918. Photographed from a Naval Air Station Anacostia airplane.
    Note construction work in the Yard's eastern extension, to the right.
    Ferry steamer Boothbay (ID # 1708), which was later renamed Grampus, is in the lower right center, with USS Shuttle (ID # 3572) immediately off her bow (further to the right).

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 146KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 91097-A

    Washington, D.C.


    Aerial photograph of Washington Barracks (the future Fort Leslie J. McNair), with the Army War College in the lower right, circa 1919.
    The view looks eastward, with the Anacostia River to the right and the Washington Navy Yard in the center middle distance. The large white ship tied up at the Navy Yard waterfront is the Presidential Yacht, USS Mayflower.

    Collection of Charles W. Taylor.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 123KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 91949

    Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia


    Panoramic view of the Navy Yard waterfront, looking north from across the Anacostia River, circa 1927.
    Ships present are (from left to right):
    probably USS Porpoise (YFB-2047);
    USS Allen (DD-66), Naval Reserve training ship;
    an "Eagle Boat" (PE);
    USS Mayflower (PY-1), Presidential Yacht; and
    probably USS Sylph (PY-12).

    Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute Photographic Collection, 1981.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 59KB; 900 x 375 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 90687

    Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia


    Aerial view, looking northwest from over the Anacostia River, during the 1936 Potomac River flood.
    The U.S. Capitol building is visible in the right distance.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 136KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     

    For links to other overall views of the Washington Navy Yard, see:

  • Washington Navy Yard -- Overall Views -- 19th Century.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 17 February 2002
    New caption information added 19 August 2004