One of the displays in the Puget Sound Navy Museum in Bremerton, Washington features the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
Shown above is a model of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton.
In 1889 a naval commission recommended building a navy yard and dry dock in the Puget Sound. In 1891, Congress provided funding to acquire a site no larger than 200 acres on the Sinclair Inlet for a dry dock for naval and commercial purposes.
In preparation for America’s possible involvement in World War I, the Navy revised the Shipyard’s primary mission in 1916 from overhaul and repair work to battleship construction. By 1919, the Shipyard had completed work on 1,700 small boats, 25 submarine chasers, 7 seagoing tugs, and 2 minesweepers. In addition, the Shipyard built the USS Pyro, the USS Nitro, and six submarines.
Shown above is a restored antique steam engine.
Shown above is a fire alarm telegraph from about 1900.
According to the museum:
“When fires were reported from pull box alarms located throughout the Shipyard, this telegraph would record the alarm and sound the Shipyard whistle, which signaled a code and alerted the Shipyard fire station to the location of the fire.”
Shown above is a 1950s toolbox.
Another view of the toolbox.
Shown above is the USS Nipsic Wardroom skylight from 1863. This Civil War gunboat served as the Shipyard’s staff offices and quarters while buildings were being constructed.
Shown above is a capstan top plate from 1899. This was used to rotate ropes or cables to move heavy loads.
Shown above is a dry dock timber from about 1896.
Shown above is Thacher’s Calculating Instrument, invented in 1897, and used to perform mathematical calculations with answers to 4-6 decimals.
Shown above is Fuller’s Spiral Slide Rule.
Shown above are USS Nipsic copper rivets from about 1900 which were used to fasten a wooden ship’s hull plates to its main structure.
Shown above is a wattmeter.
Shown above are rigging blocks used in lifting heavy loads.
Shown above is a MK V Diving Helmet from 1943, Divers performed critical tasks to minimize the need for long-term drydocking.
Another view of the diving helmet.
Shown above is firefighting clothing.
Patternmaking
According to the Museum:
“Shipyard patternmakers, engineers, and foundry workers manufactured parts such as bells, pipes, and anchors needed by the Shipyard to construct, repair, or maintain ships. Patternmakers made the patterns needed to create the molds used in casting the parts at the foundry. To ensure critical accuracy, Shipyard engineers often worked with the patternmakers to create wooden scale working models before making full-size patterns.”
More museum exhibits
Museums 101: Underwater diving equipment (photo diary)
Naval Undersea Museum: Working Underwater (photo diary)
Naval Undersea Museum: Ocean Environment (photo diary)
Naval Destroyer Museum: On the deck of the Turner Joy (photo diary)
Naval Destroyer Museum: Engine room of the Turner Joy (photo diary)
Museums 101: Some skiffs (photo diary)
Museums 101: International glass fishing floats (photo diary)
Museums 101: Groundfish (Photo Diary)