In 1972, USS Lionfish, a World War II-era attack submarine, joined the battleship for public display.
Also that year, the Nautical Nights overnight camping program commenced as a model program, enrolling more than 500,000 youths to date.
The following year, USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., a Gearing-class destroyer, was added to the fleet and immediately designated as the Commonwealth’s official memorial to the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
 In keeping with this, USS Massachusetts was subsequently designated the Commonwealth's official memorial to veterans of the Gulf War.

Soon after the arrival of USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., the Mayor of Fall River christened the site “Battleship Cove”.
In 1975 Tin Can Sailors, Inc., a national organization of 24,000 destroyer veterans, was founded at Battleship Cove.

The year 1984 included the addition of a North American T-28 Trojan.
This aircraft served as a US trainer, and also served in the VNAF Republic of Vietnam Air Force, reflecting immigrants in the Commonwealth who had served in the Vietnamese armed forces.
A new gift shop helped fuel the organization’s growth.
In 1985, the Commonwealth awarded a $2.5 million grant for the preservation of Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., and in that same year the National Park Service designated Massachusetts, Lionfish, and PT-796 as National Historic Landmarks (NHL).
Subsequently, both Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. and PT-617 received NHL status, giving Battleship Cove the highest concentration of such south of Boston.
Comprising eight vessels, the Battleship Cove fleet is the largest and most diverse collection of historic naval ships in the world.

In the 1990s the organization continued to improve with over sixty new exhibitions related to the historic ships and veterans.
The success of the overnight program, high visitation from school groups, and general admissions supported an expanded staff and improved ship maintenance efforts.
On June 14, 1997, the Cove acquired a Cold War relic: the Soviet-built missile corvette Hiddensee.
Three years later, the Commonwealth awarded Massachusetts and Lionfish a $10 million grant for significant, dry-dock restoration work.

Since 1964, Battleship Cove has hosted more than 5 million youth, veterans, and tourists.
As goals for continued success as an educational, historical museum, the Cove is dedicated to expanding and sustaining its outreach with programs like the Battleship Cove Community Boating Program, the Raytheon Inspiring Technological Exploration (RITE) Program, and the Veterans’ Voices Oral History Program
In 1972, USS Lionfish, a World War II-era attack submarine, joined the battleship for public display. Also that year, the Nautical Nights overnight camping program commenced as a model program, enrolling more than 500,000 youths to date. The following year, USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., a Gearing-class destroyer, was added to the fleet and immediately designated as the Commonwealth’s official memorial to the Korean and Vietnam Wars.  In keeping with this, USS Massachusetts was subsequently designated the Commonwealth's official memorial to veterans of the Gulf War.
Soon after the arrival of USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., the Mayor of Fall River christened the site “Battleship Cove”. In 1975 Tin Can Sailors, Inc., a national organization of 24,000 destroyer veterans, was founded at Battleship Cove.
The year 1984 included the addition of a North American T-28 Trojan. This aircraft served as a US trainer, and also served in the VNAF Republic of Vietnam Air Force, reflecting immigrants in the Commonwealth who had served in the Vietnamese armed forces. A new gift shop helped fuel the organization’s growth. In 1985, the Commonwealth awarded a $2.5 million grant for the preservation of Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., and in that same year the National Park Service designated Massachusetts, Lionfish, and PT-796 as National Historic Landmarks (NHL). Subsequently, both Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. and PT-617 received NHL status, giving Battleship Cove the highest concentration of such south of Boston. Comprising eight vessels, the Battleship Cove fleet is the largest and most diverse collection of historic naval ships in the world.
In the 1990s the organization continued to improve with over sixty new exhibitions related to the historic ships and veterans. The success of the overnight program, high visitation from school groups, and general admissions supported an expanded staff and improved ship maintenance efforts. On June 14, 1997, the Cove acquired a Cold War relic: the Soviet-built missile corvette Hiddensee. Three years later, the Commonwealth awarded Massachusetts and Lionfish a $10 million grant for significant, dry-dock restoration work.
Since 1964, Battleship Cove has hosted more than 5 million youth, veterans, and tourists. As goals for continued success as an educational, historical museum, the Cove is dedicated to expanding and sustaining its outreach with programs like the Battleship Cove Community Boating Program, the Raytheon Inspiring Technological Exploration (RITE) Program, and the Veterans’ Voices Oral History Program
Battleship Cove