USS Turner Joy — Attraction in Bremerton

A Historic Naval Destroyer. The USS Turner Joy is a Forrest Sherman-class destroyer that served with distinction in the United States Navy. Named after Admiral Charles Turner Joy, a highly respected naval officer, the USS Turner Joy is now a museum ship moored in Bremerton, Washington. This historic vessel offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into naval history and life aboard a destroyer.

Construction and Commissioning: The USS Turner Joy was constructed by the Puget Sound Bridge and Dry Dock Company in Seattle, Washington. Her keel was laid down in 1957, and she was launched in1958. The ship was commissioned into the U.S. Navy in 1959. As a Forrest Sherman-class destroyer, the Turner Joy was designed to provide naval gunfire support, anti-aircraft, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

Service History: The USS Turner Joy had a notable service history, particularly during the Vietnam War. She gained prominence for her involvement in the Gulf of Tonkin incident in August 1964, an event that escalated U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. The Turner Joy, along with the USS Maddox, reported being attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats, leading to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which granted the U.S. President authority to assist any Southeast Asian country whose government was considered to be jeopardized by communist aggression.

Throughout the Vietnam War, the Turner Joy provided naval gunfire support, engaged in patrol duties, and participated in various combat operations. She earned multiple awards and commendations for her service, reflecting the bravery and dedication of her crew.

Museum Ship: Today, the USS Turner Joy serves as a museum ship, preserved and maintained by the Bremerton Historic Ships Association. Open to the public, the museum offers a unique opportunity to explore a naval destroyer and learn about its history and operations. Visitors can tour various parts of the ship, including the deck, living quarters, engine room, and combat information center.

Exhibits and Tours: The museum features a range of exhibits that provide insight into the ship’s history, the daily life of its crew, and its role in significant naval operations. Guided tours, often led by knowledgeable volunteers and veterans, enhance the visitor experience by offering detailed explanations and personal anecdotes.

Visitors can see original equipment, artifacts, and displays that illustrate the technological advancements and operational capabilities of the Turner Joy. The ship’s deck guns, missile launchers, and anti-submarine warfare equipment are particularly popular attractions. Interactive exhibits and educational programs make the museum an engaging experience for visitors of all ages.

Educational and Community Impact: The USS Turner Joy serves as an important educational resource, offering school programs, scout activities, and veterans’ events. The museum fosters a deeper understanding of naval history and honors the service of those who served aboard the Turner Joy and other naval vessels. It provides a space for reflection, education, and community engagement, ensuring that the legacy of the USS Turner Joy is preserved for future generations.

The USS Turner Joy is a historic naval destroyer with a distinguished service record, particularly during the Vietnam War. Now serving as a museum ship in Bremerton, Washington, it offers visitors a unique and immersive experience, allowing them to explore naval history and life aboard...

This ship was well named, because the staff here are very good at turning your joy into something else--namely, misery. I've been here numerous times. This spring and summer I brought my closest family and friends and their kids. Each time, I was hoping to share the excitement and fun of being aboard a real navy ship with fresh eyes, especially the kids. Frankly, my experiences are an embarrassment to the US Navy and what it represents. Rude, passive-aggressive volunteers harassed us. Not only that, but one of the docents (or whatever they call themselves) turned off all the lights and blocked exits while my family was lost in the middle of the ship! On top of that, when I asked the guy to turn the lights back on so I could find them, he not only refused--he physically blocked me from going to find my family. He ordered me to call them. When I explained that cell reception was poor, he said I should get a different carrier, and that he needs to go get his prescriptions and run errands. On top of that, we were only allowed 30 minutes on the boat. No one even mentioned closing time at the front desk or told us anything about the boat or any policies. This is beyond rude. These behaviors present a hazard to peoples' health and safety. Believe me, if anyone fell or got hurt because of it, we wouldn't hesitate to sue the guy, the museum and the US Navy, for placing an incompetent person in charge of others' lives. The boat has a PA system, but instead of using it to tell people they have 10 minutes left or something, they instead just switch off the lights without even bothering to check if people are still there?! One museum employees' laziness and decision to be a jerk wrecked the entire day for my family. On prior trips we were treated rudely as well, by their staff of resentful people who seem to hate their jobs--or at least the public. Not only was this a total waste of money, it's now a bad memory as well. Especially for my ten year old nephew, who is claustrophobic. If he ends up with any residual trauma from this, we will sue. Meantime, we will take our business and make better memories at places where decent, competent employees understand how to treat others with a modicum of respect and kindness--and that is definitely NOT at the...

My family was locked inside the USS Turner Joy by an employee. The last photo I took on the ship tells the whole story: the Exit is BOLTED and CHAINED SHUT.

What you don't see is the panic our entire family experienced as we searched for another way out - in the DARK, because someone began turning off lights.

We struggled to find other exits using our phones as flashlights. We searched the ship's multiple levels, squeezed through small dark corridors, tripped over steps and down stairs trying to find a way out.

What we found were dead ends and two more Exits LOCKED and CHAINED. We tried calling the gift shop to alert them that people were still on the ship, but we didn’t have a signal/service inside. The outside temp was in the high 80’s and the air stopped circulating, so it felt like we were in an oven.

Fear spread across our group. We shouted for help, but no one answered. The situation would frighten anyone, but several family members have claustrophobia and suffered panic attacks as a result.

We lost sight of one another as we searched the ship's bowels for an unlocked exit. My partner found an open door and called for us to follow his voice in the dark. When he attempted to re-enter to help lead us out, an employee blocked him. The employee said that he had an errand to run and the ship was “closed.” I thought we must’ve overstayed by quite a bit, but as I exited, I noted the time: 5:04PM. The time stamp on my photo of the locked door: 5:01PM.

We purchased our tickets at 4:30PM. At no point did anyone tell us that the ship closed at 5PM; at no point did anyone use an intercom - or even shout out to us - that the ship was closing, doors were being locked and that we must exit. Why? The situation was unreal, beyond upsetting and extremely dangerous. Closing protocols for the USS Turner Joy must be changed. This must not happen to...