The Yard

Early dredging on the channel, part of the millions of dollars of work the U.S. Congress appropriated to create the Navy Yard Pearl Harbor in 1908.

Six years after Dry Dock 1 imploded during construction, Navy Yard workers put the finishing touches on the completed project, in preparation for its dedication.

The formal opening of Dry Dock 1 in August 1919. The wife of Navy Secretary Josephus Daniels, the man who called the dry dock’s 1913 explosion “the naval disaster of the year,” is given the honor of pushing the button to flood the dry dock for the first time.

Hammerhead crane that was once a landmark at the shipyard.

The battleship Oklahoma capsized during the attack on Pearl Harbor, taking its 500 crewmembers with it. During the rescue effort that ensued soon after the first planes bombed the harbor, shipyard workers were able to save 32 men trapped in the ship.

“Under secretary of the Navy J.V. Forrestal (left), unidentified officer (center), and Rear Admiral W.R. Furlong, USN (right) are on the upturned hull of the USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor, September 6, 1942,” according to the caption on this image from the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.

The wrecks of the USS Cassin and Downes, two destroyers bombed while in dry dock during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Initially thought to be totally losses, both ships were eventually repaired and returned to the war effort.

World War II shipyard workers, seen here repairing damage to a ship hit during the Pearl Harbor attack, adopted the motto “We Keep Them Fit to Fight.”

"USS Oklahoma - Salvage. Pouring concrete through tremie pipe to seal bottom of main cofferdam patch at frame 70, port side - looking aft,"according to the caption on this image from the Hawaii State Archives, Furlong Collection.

During World War II, the shipyard became a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week operation, with civilian employment peaking in the spring of 1945 with nearly 25,000 workers.

"USS West Virginia. View looking along the port side in way of the forward torpedo damage which lies between frames 40 and 52," according to the caption on this image from the Hawaii State Archives, Furlong Collection.

A shipyard worker surveys the wreckage of one of the 21 vessels sunk or damaged during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Pearl Harbor shipyard workers contributed more to the war bond effort than any other shipyard in the United States. “They were the only ones living in a war zone,” notes the shipyard’s public affairs officer Kerry Gershaneck.

War bond posters catered to almost every employee demographic at the shipyard.

War bond posters catered to almost every employee demographic at the shipyard.

War bond posters catered to almost every employee demographic at the shipyard.

War bond posters catered to almost every employee demographic at the shipyard.

In August 1945, shipyard workers celebrate as news reaches Hawaii of Japan’s intention to surrender, bringing an end to World War II.

In August 1945, shipyard workers celebrate as news reaches Hawaii of Japan’s intention to surrender, bringing an end to World War II.

In August 1945, shipyard workers celebrate as news reaches Hawaii of Japan’s intention to surrender, bringing an end to World War II.

In August 1945, shipyard workers celebrate as news reaches Hawaii of Japan’s intention to surrender, bringing an end to World War II.