July 1, 2026
America at 250: HII’s Shipbuilding Legacy
Photo caption: HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division is marking 140 years of service to the nation in 2026. This photo shows the christening of Virginia-class submarine USS John Warner (SSN 785) on Sept. 6, 2014 (HII photo).
"We are as a community who we are as a direct result of people like shipbuilders, who put their heart and soul into creating these vessels that go out across the globe and defend us both in times of peace and war." - Erika Ellis, assistant curator for community engagement, The Mariners' Museum and Park- Erika Ellis, assistant curator for community engagement, The Mariners' Museum and Park
Founded in 1886, HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division has a storied legacy of advancing shipbuilding for the United States and making meaningful contributions to the community.
WTKR-TV highlighted the 140-year history of Newport News Shipbuilding in a recent report for their ‘America 250’ series, honoring the nation’s semiquincentennial.
America 250: Newport News' 140-year shipbuilding legacy
(June 30, 2026 by Brendan Ponton)
NEWPORT NEWS — As the nation marks the 250th anniversary of American independence, the Hampton Roads region is reflecting on one of its most enduring contributions to the country — a shipbuilding legacy stretching back nearly 140 years.
It was back in 1886 when Collis Huntington founded what was then known as Chesapeake Dry Dock and Construction Company. The company was originally established to support the railroad industry.
"He needed a place where ships could be built, repurposed, refitted, and commissioned to directly support the coal line trains from the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway system which line ended here in Newport News," said Erika Ellis, assistant curator for community engagement at Mariners' Museum and Park.
By World War One, the shipyard had grown into a premier destination for warship construction — a distinction it holds to this day. Some ships were even built in camouflage in an effort to confuse German U-boats. The workforce surged dramatically during that period.
Continue reading the entire story from WTKR-TV here.
HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding Marks 140 Years of Service to the Nation
Find out moreAbout HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong.
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