A must see when visiting Charlestown ,South Carolina.

USS YORKTOWN was the second ESSEX - class aircraft carrier and the fourth ship in the Navy to bear the name. Originally named BON HOMME RICHARD, the carrier was renamed YORKTOWN on September 26, 1942.

Decommissioned on June 27, 1970 at Philadelphia, Pa., the YORKTOWN was subsequently berthed with the Philadelphia Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet. She remained there almost three years before her name was struck from the Navy list on June 1, 1973. During 1974, the Navy Department approved the donation of YORKTOWN to the Patriot's Point Development Authority, Charleston, S.C. She was towed from Bayonne, N.J., to Charleston S.C., in June of 1975. She was formally dedicated as a memorial on the 200th anniversary of the Navy, October 13, 1975.