MJM says: (2/2/15 4:31 PM)
Thus the reason for the piers after all. You really should add the ships and piers to the demo bldg list.

JD says: (2/2/15 4:34 PM)
I think the Barry will get added. (I was going to mention it in the post, but thought that might be a bit flip.)

Westnorth says: (2/2/15 4:35 PM)
Hmm, no schedule on last-chance visits, and no one's picking up the phone at either of the DS Barry's phone numbers [(202) 433-3377 or (202) 433-6115, per the museum's website].

202_cyclist says: (2/2/15 5:42 PM)
Unfortunate news, as I've enjoyed the haunted ghost ship in previous years. Hopefully the USS Gerald Ford can do a port call to the Washington Navy Yard...

JD says: (2/2/15 9:04 PM)
At least the news that the marina at the Yards Park will begin construction this year means there will be something new to look at on the water after the Barry is gone....

202_cyclist says: (2/2/15 9:56 PM)
And who knows-- perhaps the future 11th St pedestrian bridge will have so many activities and diversions we might not even notice the Barry is gone.

adamdonovan says: (2/3/15 9:18 AM)
JD - I missed the news about the marina at Yards Park beginning construction this year. Do you have a link? Have been wondering about that lately.

conngs0 says: (2/3/15 9:19 AM)
Bittersweet. Given the unlikelihood that the Display Ship Barry would be sufficiently popular to justify the expense of making it a permanent addition to the waterfront at the Navy Yard, it had to be removed. And the removal is a (small) sign of progress with the construction of the Frederick Douglass Bridge. If done right, the new bridge and related traffic pattern could help improve the scenery on the water and really help the flow of people from Navy Yard over to Southwest where the soccer stadium and other amenities will be once the Florida Rock development actually gives folks a reason to head over to that other side of Nats Park!

All that aside, I'll still miss the Display Ship Barry. What an opportunity it's been to be able to easily and frequently explore a destroyer that experienced quite a bit of history! My grandfather served in World War II in two of the Barry's predecessors. Granted there were probably quite a few improvements over the decade between those ships' construction and the Barry's, but I really appreciated the opportunity to walk through the Barry to get at least a small sense of what life was like for him during those days (it's definitely not for those inclined towards claustrophobia!).

JD says: (2/3/15 9:24 AM)
@adamdonovan--I mentioned it in the update on the BID meeting. No separate link because there's no renderings yet or really much more to say than "yes, they say they are starting it this year." Perhaps this focus on the waterline will spur Forest City to fork over some details. :-)

JD says: (2/4/15 2:43 PM)
Also, I think I will mention here that it would never have occurred to me that a post about the Barry would end up being my most-trafficked non-ballpark news item ever.

JD says: (2/6/15 2:18 PM)
Note this clarification I just added to the Barry post: A spokesman from the Navy Yard writes to say that only two of the piers are being removed--two others are being restored. And that this is not tied to the fate of the Barry.

JD says: (2/6/15 2:35 PM)
Hahaha, now the Navy Yard has said, no, only one pier is being restored, two are being demolished, and one is being left untouched.

MalS says: (2/18/15 4:46 PM)
Oh too bad - I really like the display ship and think it gives a real connection to the history of the Yard. It is the kind of thing that National Harbor (downriver) utterly lacks and can't be invented. I am very sorry to hear this.