U.S.S. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (DD-850)
Gearing-class destroyer in Fall River, Massachusetts. Added to the National Register in 1976, and a National Historic Landmark.
What it is
USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (DD-850) is a former United States Navy Gearing-class destroyer. The ship was named after Lieutenant Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., a naval aviator, son of the former U.S. Ambassador to Britain, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., and older brother of future President John F. Kennedy. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. served, with interruptions for modernization, until 1973. Among the highlights of her service are the blockade of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the afloat recovery teams for Gemini 6 and Gemini 7. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. is on display as a museum ship in Battleship Cove, Fall River, Massachusetts. She was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989 as one of a small number of surviving Gearing-class destroyers.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Structure |
| Address | Battleship Cove, Fall River, MA |
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | Sep 30, 1976 |
| Listed for | Military, Transportation |
| Level of significance | National |
| Reference number | 76000231 |
| Type of place | destroyer, museum ship, preserved watercraft |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 1 structure |
| Standing | Yes |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | Battleship Cove, Fall River, MA |
| Coordinates | 41.7057° N, 71.1630° W · Directions ↗ |
| Also in Fall River | 111 listed places in Fall River → · walking tour → |
| Nearest national park unit | New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park · 13 miles · on Park Atlas |
| Federal campgrounds nearby | West Hill Park 36 miles |
Explore
Map
Nearby in Bristol County
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Local history books for Fall River
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Guidebooks to historic places and travel in Massachusetts
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was U.S.S. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (DD-850) listed on the National Register?
Sep 30, 1976. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
Can I visit U.S.S. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (DD-850)?
Yes. U.S.S. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (DD-850) is recorded as open to the public.
Source: Wikidata
Where is U.S.S. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (DD-850)?
Battleship Cove, Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts. The nearest national park unit is New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, 13 miles away.
Where is the nomination form for U.S.S. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (DD-850)?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Are there campgrounds near U.S.S. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (DD-850)?
One federal campground is within reach, West Hill Park, 36 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there cell service at U.S.S. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (DD-850)?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 76000231. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA.