You cannot tour the yard itself — this is one of the most secure industrial sites in the country — but you can stand on the waterfront and see the carriers under construction or refit. The huge yellow Goliath crane is visible from across Hampton Roads. The yard was founded by Collis P. Huntington in 1886 as the Chesapeake Dry Dock and Construction Company, and it has shaped the city ever since: at peak World War II employment it had 31,000 workers, and the company still employs about 25,000 people today.
The best views are from the Apprentice School athletic complex on Washington Avenue, the harbour park, and across the river from Norfolk. Time a visit for a christening or commissioning — the yard sometimes opens to the public for these events, and seeing a 100,000-ton carrier slide down the ways is unforgettable.