So, I have to ask really quickly: Does anyone here watch “NCIS”? I started watching the re-runs on USA because well, on USA, it’s either re-runs of “NCIS” or “Law & Order: SUV,” right? Heh… anyways, after a few episodes, I got really into. And with USA and their random re-run marathons, I was able to catch up with the most of the series.I didn’t like season four as much due to the La Grenouille storyline except for a few episodes here and there, including “Twisted Sister” which this handsome devil was in. Happy Birthday, John.

Anyways, let’s take a little visit to where NCIS headquarters is: The Washington Navy Yard. While there are three entrances,  there is only one for visitors’ entrance and it’s not on M St. but on the one-way 11th St. If you go, make sure you have a state-issued ID, and if you want to drive your car into the yard, you have to have your registration and insurance car. Believe me, if you don’t, you’ll have to find parking elsewhere and it’s kind-of sketchy. The general area of the Navy Yard is in Southeast DC near the Nationals Ballpark. No matter where you are in the city always be careful. Cool beans?

Now, you can’t go in NCIS for a tour or anything like that but you can visit the Navy Museum and the DS Barry (a retired destroyer). While I was getting my visitor’s pass, there was an elderly couple getting a passes as well to visit the Barry. They have been married for 48 years. The husband served in World War II where he met his wife at Pearl Harbor but they didn’t marry until years later. They were so sweet together.

Pictures (click to make bigger): DS Barry, crews’ Sleeping quarters, War Room for the officers, Mess Hall, the bridge, the sonar/radar room

The DS Barry is permanently moored at Pier 2 at the Navy Yard. Itwas used during the Cold War. Gotta say if you’re scared of tight and dark places, a visit to the ship might seem more of a nightmare than a historical experience.  One of the things that you’ll have to make sure of is to mind your step especially with the knee-knockers. If no, you’ll get a bruise for days or you’ll fall flat on your face.

Want a quick story? Pulled from the mess hall info board:

The Master-At-Arms (MAA) would line the crew up for meals at the doorway to the mess hall. As soon as the cook were ready, he would send in 43 men to get their food. Each man had 10-15 minutes to eat. Once a person was done, the MAA would send in another guy. Each meal took an hour and a half to complete.

That’s efficient, huh?

Pictures (click to make bigger): DS Barry, the medic room, the officers’ quarters, crews’ quarters

Every once in a while, there’ll be dummies and it’s kind-of creepy. Another thing is that you’ll be going all over this ship with the tour route that is set out. You’ll be heading one way following one sign and you see another sign going the opposite direction. You’ll be going through one passageway that was clearly marked “Tour Route” but then you see some “Restricted Area” signs and you find yourself double guessing where you are on this ship. It’s quite comical sometimes on how lost you might get on this ship even with the signs.

The next stop that I suggest is the National Museum of the United States Navy. It’s the white building across from the DS Barry and next to the NCIS Headquarters.

Pictures (click to make bigger): Front of museum, model ship, medals, life-size replica of USS Constituation fighting top, submarine

The museum goes through the entire history of the US Navy, from the colonial times to more recent. The building used be a shop of the old Naval Gun Factory. The ship models are quite detailed and pretty cool to look at. Guns, like those that would be on ships, are scattered around; some could be moved around by visitors.

Like I mentioned before, there isn’t much to see at the Navy Yard. It’s not exactly a place for tour groups since it is an active miltary facility. There is a row of white Southern looking houses which definitely stand out among the brick office buildings; some were built as early as 1799. These are the residences of flag officers, the Commandant of the Naval District Washington, and the Chief of Naval Operations. However, don’t think that they aren’t protected. The nearby Latrobe Gate is the oldest continuously manned Marine sentry post in the nation.

I’m off to New York City for the weekend, so I might be posting a little about that later.