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

Photo # NH 97844-KN:  Washington Navy Yard, D.C., aerial view looking south, circa the early 1990s

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

Washington Navy Yard --
Overall Views -- 1962 to the Present

The closing of the Naval Weapons Plant in the early 1960s greatly reduced the Navy's need for land on the north side of the Anacostia River. The Navy Yard west of Sixth Street (called Isaac Hull Avenue within the Yard) was turned over to the General Services Administation, which gradually tore down many of the industrial buildings there and used others to house different Government agencies. The eastern half of the Yard, which remained in Navy hands, was transformed to an administrative, ceremonial and storage facility.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, plans were made to replace many of the existing factory structures with modern offices, intended for many of the Navy activities displaced when the Main Navy and Munitions Buildings were torn down. However, those operations were instead relocated to the Washington suburbs. The Navy Yard's big old buildings, reprieved by this development, were employed as warehouses, a function that kept them standing long enough to gain recognition of their inherent architectural merits. When the suburban office leases ran out in the 1990s and the Navy decided again to move some of its administrative operations to the Navy Yard, the generation-long delay ensured that the newcomers would be accomodated in the old industrial structures, massively renovated internally but retaining much of their external character.

In the meanwhile, other Navy functions kept the old Navy Yard busy. The euphemistically-named "Naval Administrative Unit", whose actual function was to operate the Presidential Yacht Sequoia, was based there until disbanded by order of the Carter Administration in 1977. The Navy Band, Navy and Marine Corps Historical Centers (with their associated museums and outdoor exhibits), Navy data processing and many other important support functions made their homes in the tradition-rich Navy Yard grounds. Several of the Service's senior officers had quarters there, and a grassy parade ground hosted a wide variety of ceremonies. In the mid-1980s the decommissioned destroyer Barry (DD-933) was moved to the World War II-era "finger" piers, providing a suitably "grey" presence in the Nation's Capital and enhancing the Navy Yard's public and ceremonial attractions.

Beginning in the 1990s, there were major renovations and new construction to prepare the Navy Yard for an influx of new tenants. Once again needing the space, the Navy began to look westward again, into its old properties west of Sixth Street. Outside the Yard's thick brick walls, the neighborhood sprouted freshly-built office buildings, serving the many private firms that accompanied the old Navy Yard's newly arrived occupants.

This page features overall views of the Washington Navy Yard taken after 1961.

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 79144

    Washington Navy Yard, D.C.


    Artwork by Rochan, depicting the "Master Plan" for redeveloping the Navy Yard as a Navy Department administrative center, circa 1972.
    This plan, which involved the demolition of many of the Yard's existing buildings and their replacement with modern structures, was not carried out.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the U.S. Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 109KB; 740 x 525 pixels

     
    Photo #: KN-19277

    Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia


    View looking northwards from over the Anacostia River, March 1970.
    The Presidential Yacht Sequoia and her Secret Service protective craft, Guardian (formerly USS PT-809), are alongside the finger pier in the center. The bathyscaphe Trieste is on display in the parking lot immediately above and between those two vessels.
    Photographed by PHC Tommy Cobb.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 97KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-KN-19277.
    Though reproductions of this photo from the Naval Historical Center's collections are available in black & white only, those from the National Archives should be available in color.

     
    Photo #: K-121160

    Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia


    Aerial photograph, looking north from over the Anacostia River in April 1977, with the Finger Piers in the foreground.
    The Admiral Willard Park historical artifact display area is in the center, just inland from the waterfront.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 485 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-K-121160.
    Though reproductions of this photo from the Naval Historical Center's collections are available in black & white only, those from the National Archives should be available in color.

     
    Photo #: K-121161

    Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia


    Aerial photograph, looking about northwest from over the Anacostia River, April 1977.
    The barge "Tom O'Malley" (YRST-1), attached to the Naval School of Diving and Salvage, is in the lower right.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 500 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-K-121161.
    Though reproductions of this photo from the Naval Historical Center's collections are available in black & white only, those from the National Archives should be available in color.

     
    Photo #: K-121155

    Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia


    Aerial photograph, looking about northwest from over the Navy Yard's southeastern waterfront, April 1977.
    The long, light-colored building in the center is Building # 76, site of the Navy Memorial Museum. The small white building beside it is Building # 1.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 127KB; 740 x 510 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-K-121155.
    Though reproductions of this photo from the Naval Historical Center's collections are available in black & white only, those from the National Archives should be available in color.

     
    Photo #: K-121158

    Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia


    Aerial photograph, looking about west from beyond the Navy Yard's eastern boundary, April 1977.
    The northern approaches of the 11th Street Bridge are in the foreground.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 116KB; 740 x 510 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-K-121158.
    Though reproductions of this photo from the Naval Historical Center's collections are available in black & white only, those from the National Archives should be available in color.

     
    Photo #: K-121159

    Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia


    Aerial photograph, looking about southwest from beyond the Navy Yard's northeastern corner, April 1977.
    The northern approaches of the 11th Street Bridge are in the foreground.
    The large dark building in the front left-center is Building # 220, whose second floor was then occupied by much of the Naval Historical Center.
    The South Capitol Street Bridge is in the background, with the old Anacostia Naval Air Station beyond it to the left.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 126KB; 740 x 490 pixels

    Note:
    This photograph appears to have a scar in its center.
    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-K-121159.
    Though reproductions of this photo from the Naval Historical Center's collections are available in black & white only, those from the National Archives should be available in color.

     
    Photo #: NH 97843-KN (color)

    Washington Navy Yard, D.C.

    View of the central part of the Yard, looking north, circa the early 1990s.
    Building # 70, housing the Navy Museum, is the long white building in the lower left center. Next to it, in the center and center-right, are Buildings 1, 108-44-57 and 67-46, which held most of the offices of the Naval Historical Center.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 142KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97844-KN (color)

    Washington Navy Yard, D.C.

    View of the central part of the Yard, looking south, circa the early 1990s.
    M Street SE, the Yard's northern boundary, is in the forground, with the Latrobe Gate in the lower right. At the foot of the Admiral Leutze Park parade ground, in the middle of the view,is the Building 57-44-108 and 67-46 complex, which housed most of the Naval Historical Center. Building 70, which held the Navy Museum, is the long building at right. The small building to the left of Building 70 is Building # 1, which also held Naval Historical Center offices.
    The bow of the display ship Barry (DD-933) is visible in the upper right.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 156KB; 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
    Link added 23 September 2002