Boston Celebrates Navy Week, July 1-7, 2024

Boston's historic ties to the U.S. Navy are on full display this week as Navy Week comes to town on July 1-7, 2024, the first Navy Week gathering hosted by Boston since 2012. Dozens of sailors from across the country will be on-hand, to talk with area and community residents about why the Navy matters to Boston.

Many of the activities are taking place at the Charlestown Navy Yard, home of the USS Constitution, Boston National Historic Park and USS Constitution Museum.  

See Full Schedule of Events. 

U.S. Navy Band Performing in Downtown Boston

Boston Navy Week features in-person demonstrations, performances and engagements throughout the week, including appearances by the heralded U.S.Navy Band. 

"We are thrilled to bring the Navy to Boston," said NAVCO's director, Cmdr. Anthony Falvo. “Though our Navy is deployed around-the-world and around-the-clock, the Navy Week program allows us to showcase our service in places that don’t enjoy an everyday naval presence. Most importantly, it affords us the opportunity to highlight our most important asset – the highly skilled men and women of the United States Navy who ensure our warfighting advantage to preserve our American way of life.”

Boston City Councilor and (Retired) US Navy Veteran Ed Flynn Welcomes U.S.Navy Week

“We are honored to host U.S. Navy Week in Boston from July 1-7 and are so proud to welcome Sailors and all military families from across the nation," said Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn,  U.S. Navy (Retired), Veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom. "I want to especially thank all U.S. Navy Sailors for their continued service and contributions to our nation at home and abroad.

"Last year in Boston, we marked the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party and the 225th anniversary of the maiden voyage of USS Constitution - the world's oldest commissioned naval warship. Boston and Massachusetts hold so much history and military history to the founding of our country - I encourage all those who are visiting to take advantage of the in-person demonstrations, performances, and engagements this week and enjoy all that our historic city has to offer. Boston is a city with a proud history of always supporting veterans and military families,” said Councilor Flynn.

John Barry Plaque on Boston Common 

Boston and New England have deep historical ties to the U.S.Navy dating back to the American Revolution.   Captain Jeremiah O'Brien (1744-1818) created the "first act of Colonial piracy" in the Revolutionary War, when he, his four brothers and townsmen led an attack on the British cutter Margaretta on June 12, 1775 at Machias, Maine, defeating the ship and taking its munitions as bounty. Maine was part of the Massachusetts Colony until 1820. 

Commodore John Barry was commissioned by George Washington to command Brig Lexington, the first ship to fly the American flag and named for the first battle of the war in Lexington, Massachusetts. In April, 1776, Lexington captured the British ship Edward, marking the first American naval victory in the American Revolution. From there Barry participated in numerous battles throughout the war, including land battles in Trenton and Princeton.

USS Constitution

The USS Constitution America's oldest commissioned ship, was first launched on October 21, 1797, and is berthed in the Charlestown Navy Yard. The USS Constitution is operated by the US Navy, a partner of the National Historic Parks of Boston.

Memorial to the U.S. Navy, Marine Park, South Boston

In Marine Park, South Boston, visit the USS Kearsarge memorial,  honoring those navy men and women who served in the Civil War, the Spanish American War and World War I.