SUPPORT US

Our Mission Statement

“The preservation of a historical memorial providing the public with an educational experience to honor patriotism and country.”

Battleship Cove does not receive any ongoing support from State or Federal sources. It relies on the generosity of visitors and donors to support its ongoing operations.

Running and maintaining this historic fleet is expensive. Developing and implementing educational and outreach programs, exhibitions and preservation initiatives likewise needs support and partnerships so that we can fulfill our mission.

These ships were never expected to last this long. Most have gone to the scrapyard “for razor blades” and wartime ships especially had a very short design life. Destroyers would be either sunk or worn out in 6 months of combat duty and so 70 years later, time, weather and our ongoing enemy – rust – has taken it’s toll.

There are many ways to help and support Battleship Cove, preserve our fleet, ensure the continuation of valuable student and community programs. Help us keep these National Historic Landmarks and monuments to sacrifice and national pride alive for future generations.

SponsorShip

Donate a gift of money either for a particular ship or project. The destroyer USS Joseph P Kennedy Jr for instance, is in desperate need of dry docking to repair her hull.

Donate to an unrestricted fund so ship’s staff can target projects most in need. Donate to community projects like the Battleship Cove Community Sailing Program [link] which gives children, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, a sense of achievement through the wonderful world of sailing.
Interested in carousels? Want to help keep a childhood memory alive? Help us maintain our 1928 historic carousel and donate now.

Donations to the Annual Fund

One of the best ways to support Battleship Cove is with a tax-deductible, unrestricted monetary donation to the Annual Fund. Your gift will be used as it is most needed. Here are some examples:

helping to meet the high cost of maintaining our fleet for future generations
creating and maintaining programs for children, families and the community
maintaining memorials to those who have lost their lives serving in the U.S. Armed Forces
developing special events and other programs
keeping up with ever-increasing general operating expenses…from the high cost of heat and electricity to insurance and grounds maintenance.

To donate now, download donation form (PDF) or call (508) 678-1100 ext. 103 or 109.

Gifts in Honor of or in Memory of a Loved One

You can commemorate an event or celebrate a special occasion with a donation to Battleship Cove in memory of or in honor of a loved one…it’s a welcome gift among veterans and those actively serving in the United States Armed Forces.

You can also honor a loved one's military service or any special occasion—from an anniversary or birthday to a retirement or reunion—by flying an American flag from the USS Massachusetts or other vessel at Battleship Cove. After the flag is lowered, it is yours to keep, and packaged with a commemorative certificate noting the honoree's name, the name of the ship from which the flag was flown, and the date of the occasion. To fly the flag (minimum $60) or make a donation in memory of or in honor of someone, download donation form (PDF) or call (508) 678-1100.

Matching Donations

For as little as $35 for a basic individual membership, you will receive free admission for one year, a subscription to our news journal, The Baystater, a 10% discount on Gift Store merchandise, invitations to special members events and more. To become a member at this level, please click here, or call us at (508) 678-1100. To find out about different membership levels and benefits, please click here.

As an official memorial, Battleship Cove pays homage to our American heroes, particularly those from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, who have given their lives in service to their country. In the spirit of duty, honor, and country—the mission of Battleship Cove—please do your part to keep these memorials alive as an inspiration for our children and future generations; become a member of Battleship Cove.

Donor Order Form

Unlimited general admission for one year
Subscription to our quarterly news journal BayStater;
A 10% discount on Gift Shop merchandise
Invitations to special members’ events
A personalized membership card identifying you as a proud supporter of a vibrant nonprofit organization.

Membership Levels and Added Benefits

Ensign Membership—$35
Entitles one adult to all the benefits described above.

Lieutenant Membership—$65
“Family Package” - The same great benefits as the Ensign Membership for two adults and two children or grandchildren (up to age 18).

Commander Membership—$100-$274
The same benefits as the Lieutenant Membership, plus four guest passes and your choice of one complimentary Battleship Cove member’s ball cap, a nautical necktie, or a nautical scarf.

Captain Membership—$275-$499
All the benefits of the Commander Membership, plus a free sunset sail at Battleship Cove Community Boating

Admiral Membership—$500-$999
All the amenities of the Captain Membership, plus a free "family overnight" (includes 2 meals, lodging, and activities for 2 adults and 2 children) and a personalized framed Supporter's Certificate for home or office.

Fleet Admiral—$1,000+
Supporters at this prestigious level will enjoy all the allowances of Admiral membership, plus a preserved piece of original teak decking from the USS Massachusetts with an engraved brass plaque.

Library Membership—$250
Libraries are invited to subscribe at this level to receive one Library Pass for each day of the week (valid 362 days/year). Each pass provides a $3 discount per person to Battleship Cove (up to 2 adults and 2 children) on the day printed on the card. Plus free subscription to the quarterly BayStater magazine and invitations to special members' events.

To become a member at any level, or to renew your current membership, please call us at (508) 678-1100 ext 102 or click here.

Endowment Fund

Give to the Endowment Fund, comprising the General Fund and Restricted Fund(s). The General Fund accepts unrestricted donations of any amount, giving Battleship Cove the flexibility to use your donation to fund preservation projects according to its own priorities.

Or, you may adopt a special project or program of your choosing with a minimum gift of $25,000 to a Restricted Endowment. Naming opportunities are available for certain donations. Copies of the Investment and Spending Policies are available upon request; please call us at (508) 678-1100 ext. 109.

Estate and Legacy Planning

Include Battleship Cove in your estate plans. Call us at (508) 678-1100 to contribute to the Endowment Fund or request details on how to support Battleship Cove through:

simple bequests
life insurance
real estate
charitable remainder trusts
charitable lead trusts

Donate Artifacts and Memories

Your military mementos are priceless gifts to Battleship Cove, and we will preserve and treat them with the dignity they deserve. For more details please contact the curator.

Uniforms, letters, canteens—the museum gratefully accepts military artifacts of virtually all kinds, from all branches of the United States Armed Forces and all cultures relating to the regions our fight for freedom has brought us. While they may not go on immediate exhibit, we can guarantee that your mementos will be appropriately handled and preserved. They are a valuable research tool which allows us to better understand our past.

If you're not quite ready to surrender your treasures, consider donating them as part of your estate plans. Battleship Cove can provide you with the appropriate language to include in your will, and you shall rest comfortably knowing that your memories will be preserved.

Contact the curator for more details about donating artifacts.

PartnerShip

Talk with us about partnering to deliver educational or community based programs be support of the Sailing Program or volunteer initiatives. Talk to us about using our ships as a classroom for your vocational course where hands on programs benefit the student and gets work done to preserve our fleet.

Volunteer

Volunteering at Battleship Cove is a great way to meet new friends and give back to the community. We are always looking for volunteers with an interest in preserving our fleet, promoting our mission, helping out behind the scenes or inspiring children and other visitors. You may choose to join our permanent volunteer staff or sign up to help with a short-term project. In return for your help, you will receive invitations to special events, lectures and exhibit openings and more.

Whether you are a history buff or handy person, veteran or young professional, educator or student, we have a job for you. For example:

Our education department seeks:

veterans to speak about their military service with Scouts and youth groups
professional educators to assist in the creation and enhancement of interpretive displays/exhibits
docents to tell the ships’ stories to visitors

Our historic preservation/curatorial department needs:

preservationists and detail workers to help restore fixtures such as fans, battle lanterns, lamps, etc.
electronics gurus/repair persons to restore our electronic equipment.
researchers to help with the organization, classification, and archiving of artifacts, books, and documents
and of course people who love to paint ships!

The Kennedy Restoration Committee is looking for:

People to help with the preservation of the destroyer USS Joseph P.Kennedy Jr., (DD-850)

To find out about current volunteer openings that match your skills and interests, please call the curator at (508) 678-1100, ext. 108 or send an email.

USS Massachusetts Living History Group

Formed in 2010, the Living History Group is an important part of the way we tell the story of a sailor at sea at Battleship Cove. This volunteer Group’s goal is to recreate a WWII Navy ship’s company and Marine detachment aboard ship, bringing the vessel to life as it was in the Second World War.

The USS Massachusetts Living History Group drills on the Battleship once a month.

They conduct WWII Training in basic seamanship & Marines of the period as well as performing standard and on occasion not so standard operations aboard ship during WWII.

The USS Massachusetts Living History Group is actively seeking interested members.

Crew berthing for the weekend will be provided. So get your kit together!

For more information, please visit http://ussmasslhg.com.

Memorials

Battleship Cove is home to several official war memorials; if possible, we encourage you to visit them, give them the reverence they deserve and offer financial support to help us preserve them for the next generation of Americans to appreciate and remember. By becoming a Battleship Cove member, you honor Massachusetts residents who gave their lives in service to their country—and all Americans who sacrifice so much in the name of freedom—by helping us preserve these important memorials:

USS Massachusetts On the Battleship USS Massachusetts

Massachusetts’ Official Memorials to those from the Commonwealth who were killed in service to their country:
The World War II Memorial, honoring the more than 13,000 Massachusetts heroes from all branches of military service who gave their lives in service to their country during the Second World War.
Pearl Harbor Exhibit, honoring victims of the attack on this U.S. Naval Base, dedicated by the Massachusetts Chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors’ Association.

Plus:

The PT Boaters Memorial, a memorial scroll on permanent display in the Newberry Hall PT exhibition building at Battleship Cove lists the name of the 331 PT Boaters who lost their lives during World War II.

USS Massachusetts On the Battleship USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr.

The Korean War Memorial, Massachusetts’ official memorial to the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who came from the Bay State and gave their lives while serving their country in “The Forgotten War.”

The Vietnam War Memorial, Massachusetts’ official memorial to those from the Commonwealth who died in service to the United States during these wars.

On Site

The memorial dedicated to the memory of the victims of the 9/11 attacks.