Drydock No. 1
Why it's listed
Drydock Number One sits within the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia, and is built of large blocks of Massachusetts granite. Its sides rise in stepped tiers, with two flights of stairs at the land end, and it measures 319½ feet long. Work began in 1827 under an act of Congress for the gradual improvement of the Navy, making it one of the first two drydocks built in the United States. Construction cost $974,365.65 and finished in 1834, though the dock opened on 17 June 1833, when the Delaware became the first vessel drydocked in the country. During the Civil War the Confederate government rebuilt the Union steam frigate Merrimac here as the ironclad Virginia, which attacked the Union fleet in 1862 until the Monitor appeared. The structure survives as originally built apart from a replacement caisson and remains in daily use, nearly two centuries after construction began.
Significance in brief: It was one of the first two drydocks built in the United States, and the Delaware became the first vessel drydocked in the country here in 1833. During the Civil War the Confederate ironclad Virginia was rebuilt in the dock from the Union frigate Merrimac. The shipyard is described as the oldest naval shipyard in the United States.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 70000862, listed February 26, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Portsmouth |
| Listed | February 26, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000862 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Areas of significance | Military, Maritime History |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated November 11, 1971 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition; survives as originally built except for replacement of the original caisson, and is still in daily use. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 36.82062, -76.29304 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 70000862.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5309682
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.