Next step for naval museum on Southbank

News

Staff Writer

Legislation has been drafted that, if enacted, will authorize an agreement between the City and the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association to bring a U.S. Navy warship to the Southbank Riverwalk and use the vessel as a living history museum.

The ordinance, sponsored by Council member Bill Bishop, is scheduled to be introduced at the council’s July 27 meeting.

The ship is the USS Charles F. Adams, a guided missile destroyer that was decommissioned in 1990. It is currently berthed at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia.

The Adams was the first ship in the Navy built and commissioned as a guided missile destroyer. The 437-foot vessel was well-armed with five-inch guns as well as missile and torpedo launchers.

“Pound for pound, it was the most dangerous ship ever built,” said John O’Neil, a retired U.S. Navy captain who is executive director of the JHNSA.

Eventually, 23 Adams-class destroyers were built and deployed. In addition to being the first of its kind, the Adams is also the last remaining example of the design.

“The Adams class did for surface warfare what the aircraft carrier did for naval aviation,” said O’Neil.

The legislation represents the latest step in the association’s quest to bring the ship to Jacksonville and create a museum to allow people to experience what it was like to serve on the Adams.

Bert Watson, president of the JHNSA, said the total cost to bring the ship to Jacksonville and open it to the public will be about $5 million. Having the City on board will put the association in a position to begin raising money in earnest.

“We’ve been working on getting this legislation for four years,” he said. “The legislation will beget the fundraising.”

Watson said the Navy is prepared to donate the ship for use as a museum. After it is towed to Jacksonville, Watson said it will be dry-docked and the exterior will be made suitable for a long-term exhibit. Volunteer labor will refurbish the interior and create exhibits.

After the Adams is moored on the Southbank near the Acosta Bridge, it will be a living classroom and “the only naval ship museum in Florida or Georgia,” said O’Neil.

Watson said the association chose the location for several reasons. It’s near Friendship Park, Southbank restaurants and the water-taxi dock. There’s also some parking available at the site and by mooring the Adams parallel to the bridge, the museum site doesn’t require much shorefront property.

O’Neil said there has been some criticism of the association’s ability to raise funds to make the museum a reality. He said he’s confident, based on the response from hundreds of Navy veterans all over the world who served on the Adams and the other destroyers in the class.

He also said cutting the ribbon on the museum will be the first step. Keeping it open will be the next step and he’s just as confident about that as he is about raising money.

“We estimate 93,000 visitors the first year, not including school field trips,” said O’Neil.

Watson said the association’s goals go beyond merely raising enough money to bring the plan to fruition.

“To make this project work, we need for the community to participate and embrace the project,” he said.

Toward that end, the association operates the Adams Class Naval Ship Museum at the Landing that includes displays of artifacts salvaged from the Adams and a selection of military souvenirs. It’s staffed by officers and sailors who served on the Adams and other guided missile destroyers of its time who are able to answer questions and provide their own living history.

“The store is doing very well. We have at least 100 visitors on Saturdays,” said JHNSA board member Wayne Misenar, who served for four years aboard the Adams as its electronics materiel officer.