Newport News Shipbuilding constructed its first hull, the tugboat Dorothy, between 1890 and 1891, four years after Collis P. Huntington founded the shipyard as Chesapeake Dry Dock and Construction Company. Huntington envisioned a shipyard capable of building large ships to transport coal.

Following a lengthy restoration process, NNS placed Dorothy in her present location near Bldg. 520 in March 1976, and rechristened her on June 19 that same year.

For the last 50 years, Dorothy has stood watch as Huntington’s original vision advanced far beyond what he could have imagined. In this same timeframe, the Nimitz-class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers have launched, served and started returning for refueling and complex overhauls (RCOH); USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) just completed the longest deployment in aircraft carrier history; and two classes of nuclear-powered attack submarines – Los Angeles and Virginia – continue to dominate the seas.

Dorothy is more than a tugboat. She stands as a symbol of shipbuilder pride, resilience, grit and determination.

To read more about Dorothy’s history, including her construction, service and restoration, check out this special edition of the Shipyard Bulletin, “Bring Her Home,” published after her rechristening in 1976.