U.S. Navy Marks Its 250th Anniversary on October 13
Tributes Echo at U.S.S. Alabama and Mobile’s Battleship Park
Today, October 13, carries special meaning for the U.S. Navy: it marks its 250th birthday. On this date in 1775, the Continental Congress authorized the creation of a naval force, setting sail the long and often turbulent history of America’s sea power.
Though the road from that first commission to a modern global force was uneven, the Navy officially embraced October 13 in 1972, when Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt designated it as the Navy’s birthday.
As the Navy celebrates, one of its most visible memorials stands in Mobile, Alabama: Battleship Memorial Park, anchored by the WWII-era USS Alabama (BB-60).
Battleship Memorial Park lies along the western shore of Mobile Bay. It showcases not only the storied USS Alabama, but also the submarine USS Drum, plus a collection of aircraft, tanks, and memorial exhibits.
The USS Alabama itself is a South Dakota–class fast battleship. She entered service in 1942 and saw action both in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters.
The Alabama carried a crew of about 2,500 during World War II, and participated in major operations ending with leading an American fleet into Tokyo Bay on September 5, 1945. She earned nine Battle Stars for her wartime service.
Battleship Memorial Park was formally opened on January 9, 1965, after a citizens’ effort in Alabama secured the ship, refurbished her, and brought her to Mobile Bay. The park was designated a National Historic Landmark, and both the Alabama and the Drum carry that status.
Visitors to the park can explore up to 12 decks aboard the Alabama, access gun turrets, inspect the brig, and engage with hands-on exhibits. The submarine Drum lies just behind the Alabama in the mooring area, accessible via the park walkway.
Today the park spans about 175 acres and offers walking paths, scenic views of Mobile Bay, a plane pavilion, and displays of military vehicles and aircraft.
Admission is managed via a ticket office; the park operates daily (except Christmas), generally from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (last ticket sold at 4:00 p.m.)
The Navy’s birth in 1775 was modest in scale. The Continental Congress created a naval committee to oversee the outfitting of two vessels to intercept British supply ships. Over time, that embryonic force grew—muted by budget constraints, politics, and shifting priorities—but gradually evolved into a permanent maritime service.
In 2025, as the Navy turns 250, the occasion is being marked with ceremonies, public ship tours, static displays, flyovers, and memorial events.
For some, the link between the grand global Navy and a museum ship in Mobile may seem distant. Yet the USS Alabama is more than a relic. She is a living, tangible bridge to the men and women who served at sea. Her gun decks, her bulkheads, even her engine rooms speak of the discipline, risks, and duty of naval service.
On this October 13, as the Navy marks a quarter-millennium, Battleship Memorial Park stands as both witness and tribute. Visitors who step aboard the Alabama walk through time—through wartime, through transitions, through America’s rise as a maritime power.
The Navy’s birthday is not just a ceremony. It is a living memory, sailed in steel, carried by stories, and anchored in places like Mobile Bay.
For more information on the USS Alabama and Battleship Memorial Park, visit them on the web or follow them on Facebook.
