The Chicago Navy Memorial at Navy Pier will honor the men and women who served at Navy Pier and in Chicagoland in the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine during America's wars. “Why do they call it ‘Navy Pier’?” In the complex answer to that simple question lies a depth, richness and significance to our city’s and nation’s heritage that few of today’s visitors are aware of. Through
out the 20th Century and up to today, Chicagoland has played a pivotal role in our nation’s Navy, Sea Service, and maritime history, heritage, and national defense. At the center of this history is Navy Pier, the logical site for a Navy Memorial that will preserve, celebrate and educate about this compelling story. Built in 1916, the Chicago Municipal Pier served as a barracks and training center for Army and Navy personnel during World War I. Renamed Navy Pier in 1927 in honor of its World War I service, the Pier once again became a major training facility for the Navy early in World War II. From 1942 until the end of the war, Navy Pier served as home port for two Navy training aircraft carriers which operated in Lake Michigan off the downtown Chicago waterfront. Flying from nearby Glenview Naval Air Station, 18,000 Navy and Marine Corps carrier pilots received their qualification by practicing landing and taking off from the flight decks of USS Sable and USS Wolverine. Also during World War II, Navy Pier served as Headquarters for the Naval Air Technical Training Center, training over 60,000 Navy and Allied aircraft and diesel engine maintenance technicians, providing critical support for Navy operations and maintenance. Other Chicagoland connections to the Sea Services are strong. Four United States Navy ships have been named USS Chicago, including a heavy cruiser sunk in combat in 1943 with the loss of 63 Navy
Sailors, and a nuclear powered submarine currently on active duty. During World War II, the Great Lakes Naval Training Center trained over 500,000 Navy Sailors. Today, all new Navy Sailors receive their initial “boot camp” training at Great Lakes. Approximately 40,000 recruits pass through the Great Lakes Recruit Training Center
annually prior to joining the fleet. Many other Chicagoland Navy and Sea Service stories enrich this heritage. Together, they comprise a compelling history and heritage that must be told and passed along to future generations.
