Chief of Naval Operations Endorsement

“The ADAMS Class Veterans Association and the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association are truly undertaking a worthwhile cause. The CHARLES F. ADAMS Museum will represent all of the DDGs of this historic class of destroyers. The Museum will be a fitting and dynamic tribute to the many Navy veterans who served on these great ships.”
G. Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations.

The Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association (JHNSA) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization of Northeast Florida residents, local Jacksonville businessmen, and retired military veterans who have the vision of establishing the former guided missile destroyer USS CHARLES F. ADAMS (DDG-2) as a Naval Ship Museum in downtown Jacksonville on the banks of the St Johns River. JHNSA is teamed with the Adams Class Veterans Association, Inc. (ACVA) (also a 501(c)3 non-profit) to obtain donation of the USS CHARLES F. ADAMS from the U.S. Navy.

This Naval Ship Museum would be:

1. A great tourist attraction that would bring "excitement back to downtown Jax"! And as well, bring people and business to the downtown area from the local area and from across the country.

2. Successful due to the "win-win" business ventures that have been established between the Naval Ship Museum and local businesses (lodging, food, restaurant, catering, hotels, transportation, etc.). The year round operation in Florida’s climate will make Museum self sustaining, and economically able to meet and exceed all Museum expense requirements, as well as help local businesses grow and prosper

3. Support our youth educational and civic activities programs by working with local schools as follows:

• Offer "Camp Aboard" programs where kids learn science, history, and heritage.




• Be a place for Navy League Sea Cadets, Boy Scouts, High School JNROTC units, Jacksonville University ROTC unit, and other youth groups to have events, ceremonies, training, camp aboard weekends, lectures, etc.




• Note - SE Georgia JNROTC units have already said they will come to Jax for Camp Aboard weekends... they now go to Charleston.




• Duval County Public Schools are very interested in having classes on board.

4. No expense to taxpayer

5. An exciting place to have dinners & social events (July 4th, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, New Year Celebration) with a spectacular view of City and riverfront

6. A fitting Memorial honoring all military veterans, the ships of the Adams Class, and Navy sailors, along with being an appropriate place to hold ceremonies on July 4th, Veterans Day, and Memorial Day.

7. Place that remembers and educates visitors on the Cold War, how it was won, the sacrifices that were made to win it, and the reason why winning the Cold War was so important.

8. Recognize the fact that ADAMS was the first ship in the Navy built from the keel up as a guided missile ship, along with other cutting-edge technologies/weapons, which made her the beginning of today's high-tech Navy.

9. A really fun thing to do in downtown Jacksonville due to the many interesting historical aspects of the ship, ship tours, and ship experience (like the "battle scenario" in the Combat Information Center). This impressive museum will have several inter-active exhibits and many displays throughout the ship.

10. The only US Navy museum ship between Charleston SC and Mobile AL (there are none in Georgia or Florida).

A lot of individuals and organizations have already expressed their written support for this project, including the Florida Secretary of State, the Florida Director of Veterans' Affairs, Duval County Public Schools, Jacksonville area Boy Scouts, Jacksonville Sea Cadets, Jacksonville University ROTC, Northeast FL and Southeast GA JNROTC units, and numerous veterans groups from around the country.