USS Orleck Arrives on the Northbank
USS Orleck at sea in 1965. Public Domain image Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Jacksonville, Fla. - The Jacksonville riverfront is taking on new life.
The arrival of the decommissioned warship USS Orleck is the culmination of over a decade of work by the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association, the team at Abel Bean Law and the volunteer effort of thousands of other people from the people of Lake Charles, Jacksonville, Port Arthur and more to turn the ship that served in three war eras into a floating museum on the St. John’s River.
“It is overwhelming to experience something you’ve worked on for over 12 years finally come true. We’ve faced many different hurdles and setbacks, but we’ve prevailed,” says Captain Daniel Bean, the President of the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association, a 25-year Navy Veteran, and partner at Abel Bean Law. “The USS Orleck is a shining example of Abel Bean Law’s commitment to community service. It’s been a firm effort and none of us could have accomplished it without the support of the entire team.”
From Active Duty to Floating Museum
The USS Orleck is the most decorated ship of the post-World War II era, having been deployed in the Vietnam War, the Korean War and the Cold War. The ship fired over 11,000 rounds during the Korean War on its way to earning the nicknames “Top Gun” and “Grey Ghost of the Vietnam Coast.” Since 2000, she has served as a museum ship in Lake Charles, LA.
Thanks to the generous financial support of Vystar, the City of Jacksonville and the Downtown Investment Authority, the USS Orleck comes to northeast Florida after an extensive refurbishment in Port Arthur, Texas. A top-to-bottom detailing of the ship, including reinforcement with extra steel, completed by Gulf Copper and Manufacturing will add an estimated 10-15 years to the lifetime of the ship.
The ship will transform into a floating museum, including a flagship exhibit called the “US Navy Cold War Experience” that will transport visitors back to the era through period detail, authentic radio broadcasts, and, eventually, audio animatronics. “As any museum changes its paintings,” says Captain Bean, “we’re going to grow and adapt.” Organizers anticipate the museum will be ready for guests in time for Jacksonville’s bicentennial celebration in June.
A Focal Point for the Community
The Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association intends for the USS Orleck to become the premier destination along the riverfront. The ship will host meetings, marriages, reunions and re-enlistments. Politicians will be able to make public speeches against the awesome backdrop of the ship, the river and the city. The ship will become an anchor for the city’s cultural and educational center, merging with Jacksonville’s Museum of Science and History when it relocates from its current location on the southbank. Captain Bean shares plans to make the USS Orleck a destination for youth group overnight events and transition parts of the ship into a bed and breakfast, while maintaining the authenticity that makes it a living memorial.
“The goal is to make the USS Orleck as integral to city life in Jacksonville as the USS Wisconsin in Norfolk, Virginia and the USS Midway in San Diego, California,” says Captain Bean. “When relatives come into town and ask ‘What should we do today?’, you’ll say, “You need to go see the warship.’”
“Additionally,” continues Captain Bean, “the hope is to create a Heroes Park and memorial wall at a somber location on the river. This marks another chapter in Abel Bean Law’s commitment to veterans services alongside K9s for Warriors, the 5 Star Veterans Center and Mission United, an arm of the United Way.”
“One in four people walking the streets of Jacksonville have military affiliation. The USS Orleck on the waters of the St. John’s River will be a symbol of how the Navy has helped build Jacksonville. We’ve dreamed a lot,” Captain Bean reflects. “Every time I go across the Main Street Bridge to downtown, I look to my right and picture the USS Orleck docked along the pier. We always like to finish what we start at Abel Bean Law. We knew one day it would be there. And now it is.”
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