There are a surprising number of free activities in Boston – and that’s without including all the museums offering free admission days. One budget-friendly attraction is particularly fascinating. It’s survived multiple Kamikaze attacks, helped to save 120 men from the sinking carrier Princeton, and served in both World War II and the Korean War.

This nautical hero is the USS Cassin Young.
Yelp/Chun M.
It’s located in the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston.
Flickr/Mattia Panciroli
The destroyer is one of only four of its kind still afloat, and you can visit free of charge. (Donations are always appreciated but are not required.)

Those not in the know will visit the nearby USS Constitution and skip right over the USS Cassin Young. That’s to your advantage because you can usually walk right onto this ship. It’s also much less crowded than the USS Constitution, which is fortunate because quarters were pretty tight on the Fletcher-class destroyer.
This is a captain’s bunkroom.
Tripadvisor/Taylor A
Not all of the accommodations were as comfortable. Can you imagine sleeping here?
Flickr/Amy the Nurse
To get the most out of your visit, take part in one of the free tours.
Yelp/Ruth M.
This gives you access to more areas of the ship, and helps you to appreciate the boat’s years of service. Volunteers lead the tours, so your best bet is to go on a Saturday when there are plenty of docents on hand. To be on the safe side, call 617-242-5601 a couple of days in advance to check on the volunteer schedule.

The USS Cassin Young was commissioned on December 31st, 1943. It took part in multiple battles in the Pacific during World War II; during D-Day at Okinawa, it served as radar picket ship, a hazardous job that involved warning the fleet of impending attacks.

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The Fletcher-class destroyer was a flexible vessel that could refuel at sea and defend itself from attacks coming from the air, the surface of the water, and from submarines striking from below.
Yelp/Holly S.
However, on July 30th 1945, a kamikaze smashed into the destroyer, killing 22 of the men on board and injuring many more.
This is the ship’s medical room, where the wounded were cared for.
Flickr/Martyn Smith
After the attack, the USS Cassin Young was repaired in Charlestown. It was sent out again during the Korean War, before finally being decommissioned in 1960.
A few years back, the USS Cassin Young underwent restoration work.
Yelp/Jared J.
Tripadvisor/Taylor A
The rooms are set up in a way that helps you to imagine what life might have been like on board.
This was the officer's dining room.
Yelp/Jay Y.
Although a weapon of war, this ship was home to those serving in our navy for months at a time.
A tour of the USS Cassin Young provides an intriguing glimpse into the past and reminds visitors of the sacrifices made by those who served on this ship.
Flickr/Bill

Please note that the USS Cassin Young closes in extremely hot weather or when the ocean is rough. Access to the ship is seasonal, and the season usually ends sometime in November (depending on the temperature).

Have you been aboard this historic ship yet?

You may be interested in our past article: “These 7 Places In Boston Are AMAZING – And The Best Part? They Don’t Cost Anything.“

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