THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 21, 1995 TAG: 9505190192
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
The opening to the public of Trophy Park at the Naval Shipyard adds another special place for tourists to Portsmouth's growing list of attractions.
Especially during this year of the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, the Navy Yard's display of weapons should intrigue not only people who fought that war but their children and grandchildren who have heard them talk about it.
Portsmouth is a paradise for history buffs, ranging from the nation's oldest Naval Shipyard and the nation's oldest Naval Hospital to Olde Towne's fantastic array of architecture, the Naval Shipyard Musem and the meticulously restored Portsmouth Lightship.
The Lightship is a treasure that sometimes doesn't get the local publicity afforded to other public places, but for visitors it is a special treat. Any notion of destroying the Lightship to cut an inlet from the river to Water Street ought to be dropped.
Maybe the city could cut a moat around the Lightship to give the illusion of an inlet without resorting to destruction of the ship.
The Lightship is a vital part of the list of historic attractions. Now that the hospital and the Navy Yard are becoming more hospitable to tourists, the city does not need to start destroying anything that makes Portsmouth different.
And the Lightship is one of its unique waterfront attractions. by CNB