Battleship Cove is located in Fall River , Ma.

It’s a nonprofit maritime museum. In addition to the brick and mortar museum, the grounds are decorated with propellers, props and preserved pieces of hulls.

In the water of beautiful Mt. Hope Bay the  rescued naval vessels are still afloat and maintained. A nominal admission allows you to explore the majestic ships.

This is the largest collection of preserved US Navy Ships in the World. The fleet includes five National Historic Landmarks: Battleship USS Massachusetts, Destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., Submarine USS Lionfish, and PT Boats 617 and 796.

While exploring the grounds I met a veteran who is now making his living as a pilot/photographer. He had a stand set up with his amazing photographs. You can check out his work at http://newenglandwings.com/.

Battleship Cove and it’s museums sit surrounded by Fall River Heritage State Park. The park hugs the shore of the Taunton River (Mt. Hope Bay) and offers a boardwalk, benches, groves of trees, an antique  carousel, public sailing programs, and a three-acre meadow where I watched families flying kites.

The carousel is housed in a separate building and was closed to the public for a private party when I was there. I definitely want to return to see that. I could see traditional carousel lights through the windows of the upper level but couldn’t see much else.

I watched a common merganser float with the tide and a 2 drakes got into a tussle over a female  duck.

I even saw a turtle making a dive for the bottom. All around was activity, joggers, dog walkers, families with strollers. It was clear that this is a popular park  in beautiful shape and I had a beautiful spring day to enjoy my introduction.

If you go you’ll find  the parking is free in the lot located under the Braga Bridge near the Battleship Cove Visitor Center.

Park all day and enjoy all the area has to offer. I only scratched the surface on this first visit.

It’s clear I’ll have to go back to dig a little deeper.