Photo Timeline: Newport News Shipbuilding’s 140th Anniversary
Published January 27, 2026
Explore a photo timeline highlighting moments in Newport News Shipbuilding history over the past 140 years.
1886
Industrialist Collis P. Huntington founds Chesapeake Dry Dock and Construction Co. On Jan. 28, the Virginia General Assembly approved the company’s charter, which provided authorization to acquire land, build a dry dock and build ships of all dimensions. The company’s name is later changed to Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co.
1889
NNS’ first dry dock – Dry Dock 1 – opens.
1891
NNS delivers its first vessel – tugboat Dorothy. Restored in the 1970s, the boat is now on display at the corner of Washington Avenue and 41st Street.
1897
NNS delivers its first naval ships – gunboats Nashville (PG 7), Wilmington (PG 8) and Helena (PG 9).
1917
NNS unveils the Rock, a memorial to company founder Collis P. Huntington. The plaque on the monument features a quote attributed to Huntington: “We shall build good ships here; at a profit if we can, at a loss if we must, but always good ships.”
1918
With strong support from company President Homer L. Ferguson, NNS partners with the federal government to open Hilton Village. The neighborhood was built to house shipbuilders and their families in response to a World War I-induced shipbuilding boom.
1919
The NNS Apprentice School is founded to recruit, train and develop shipbuilders.
On July 4, or “Liberty Launching Day,” NNS launches three destroyers – Thomas (DD 182), Haraden (DD 183) and Abbot (DD 184).
1934
NNS delivers Ranger (CV 4), the first U.S. Navy ship designed and built from the keel up as an aircraft carrier.
1940s
NNS-built ships play an important role in World War II, including Enterprise (CV 6).
1952
NNS delivers passenger liner SS United States. At the time, United States was the largest ship ever built in the country and included the world’s largest stacks.
1960
NNS launches Enterprise (CVN 65), the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
1967
NNS christens John F. Kennedy (CV 67). A young Caroline Kennedy christened the ship – named for her late father – in front of a crowd of more than 32,000.
1972
NNS launches Nimitz (CVN 68), the lead ship of a new class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. All 10 Nimitz-class carriers were built at NNS.
1974
NNS launches Los Angeles (SSN 688), the lead ship of a new class of nuclear-powered attack submarines. NNS ultimately built 29 Los Angeles-class submarines, with the last being launched in 1995.
1986
NNS launches Los Angeles-class submarine USS Newport News (SSN 750) and celebrates its 100th anniversary.
2004
NNS christens USS Texas (SSN 775), the U.S. Navy’s second Virginia-class submarine and the first delivered by NNS.
2010s
NNS kicks off Integrated Digital Shipbuilding initiatives. These technologies, such as digital work instructions that provide shipbuilders digital 3D data versus traditional paper drawings, promote increased efficiency and productivity.
2017
NNS delivers USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the lead ship for a new class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
2022
NNS lays the keel for Enterprise (CVN 80), the first aircraft carrier designed digitally and built digitally using visual work instructions on laptops and tablets rather than paper drawings.
2024
NNS transfers the mid-body hull section of Enterprise (CVN 80) to begin concurrent assembly of another Ford-class aircraft carrier, Doris Miller (CVN 81).
2025
NNS delivers Massachusetts (SSN 798) and lays the keel for Barb (SSN 804), the 12th and 15th Virginia-class submarines delivered by NNS, respectively.
NNS completes work on the bow section of District of Columbia (SSBN 826). Delivery of the bow section means all major modules for SSBN 826 are now at General Dynamics Electric Boat. NNS is a major shipbuilding partner in the Columbia-class program, constructing and delivering six module sections per submarine under contract to Electric Boat.