It’s Navy week and Harbor Fest here in Boston!
It’s an exciting week in our fair city. It is the bicentennial celebration of the 1812 War.
I had to read up about it because my understanding of American history is still pretty shallow.
This year, Boston Navy Week is one of the signature events around the country commemorating OpSail 2012, the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and the Star-Spangled Banner. The commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 is a salute to all Sailors and Marines who fought gallantly in that conflict, who served in all our nation's conflicts since then, and who are defending freedom around the world today.
Since winning our independence in 1776, the United States has been a maritime nation, relying on unobstructed access and free use of the world’s oceans which are essential to our national security and prosperity. It is for those reasons – access and free use – the United States went to war in 1812 to defend, and that is what the U.S. Navy has been protecting ever since.
The performance of America’s Sailors and Marines in the Wary of 1812 set the standards upon which our naval forces continue to build today.
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions brought about by Britain's ongoing war with France, the impressments of American merchant sailors into the Royal Navy, British support of American Indian tribes against American expansion, outrage over insults to national honor after humiliations on the high seas, and possible American desire to annex Canada.
Our little family decided to spend the day in the city even though it was going to be a hot day.
We decided to park close by the Aquarium and stopped for a quick lunch from a few of the food trucks parked at the Rose Kennedy Parkway right by the New England Aquarium.
The food was quite good. There is something fun about eating street food, hanging out at the park and watching the people go by.
We then walked to the Aquarium to say a quick hello to the seals swimming in the tank there before taking a water shuttle from Long Wharf to the Charleston Navy Yard.
My initial plan was to walk through the North End (i.e. the Little Italy) to the Navy Yard, but it was much too hot!
The 10 minute boat ride was quite nice, and it was nice to see the Boston city view from the harbor.
We visited the Constitution Museum, the actual Constitution boat (which is a Tall Ship), and Kensington (Canadian Navy Patrol ship)
Mommy made the mistake and 4 of the 5 Tall Ships arriving in Boston that weekend was docked across the harbor at the Fish Pier. Only the American boat, the Eagle was docked at the Charleston Navy Yard. Ooops! Oh well, the day was so hot that I doubt that our kids could have tolerated going into aboard more ships!
We took the water shuttle back to Long Wharf and let the kids cool off in the water play area at Rose Kennedy Parkway.
We took the water shuttle back to Long Wharf and let the kids cool off in the water play area at Rose Kennedy Parkway.
I was so tired…… But it was a fun day J
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| Boston skyline from the water shuttle |
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| Navy boats free for visitors to come aboard |
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| Constitution - the Tall Ship that fought in the 1812 war. |
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| The Eagle, which is the visiting American Tall Ship |
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