Editing Navy Yard Redevelopment (section)

== Naval History ==

The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, established in its South Philadelphia location in 1871, served as one of the nation's premier naval construction and repair facilities for over a century. The yard built and repaired vessels through two world wars, the Cold War, and beyond, employing tens of thousands of workers at its peak. Historic vessels including the cruiser USS Olympia, flagship of Admiral Dewey's Asiatic Squadron during the Spanish-American War, were built at the facility. The shipyard's closure, announced as part of the 1991 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, removed one of the region's largest employers while leaving vast industrial facilities available for new uses.<ref name="pidc">{{cite book |title=Navy Yard Master Plan Update |year=2018 |publisher=Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation |location=Philadelphia}}</ref>

The base closure created both crisis and opportunity for Philadelphia. The loss of thousands of jobs devastated workers and surrounding communities while removing economic activity that had supported South Philadelphia for generations. The available land and facilities, however, represented potential for new development that could not otherwise have been assembled. The challenge facing planners was to transform military-industrial infrastructure into uses appropriate to the contemporary economy while honoring the site's historical significance.<ref name="gallery"/>