




by erin thursby
Jacksonville’s ties with the military, especially the Navy, is one of the reasons you’ll find the ADAMS Class Museum Visitor Center at the Jacksonville Landing. But the main reason is their dedicated effort to acquire a decommissioned Navy Guided Missile Destroyer, the USS Charles F. Adams (DDG-2), as a floating attraction in the St. Johns River.
Spearheading this push is the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association, which runs the visitor center and raises funds for museum. The JHNSA has recently elected a new President, Daniel K. Bean, a commercial trial attorney who is also a Navy veteran.
Florida Governor Rick Scott served on an Adams Class vessel when he was in the service. Last month he came to the Visitor center, where he was presented a model of the USS Glover, the very ship he served on in the 70s. Daniel K. Bean, President of the JHNSA, enjoyed listening to the Governor reminisce about his time on board. “He told us about where he slept and where he worked,” Bean says. “Even back then he showed an entrepreneurial spirit…back in that time, I guess 1971, they didn’t have soda machines…so he brought cases of soda and sold them on board the ship.”
Says Bean: “Having the support of Governor Scott is another step in reinforcing how important bringing the Adams back to Jacksonville is to our community and region. When fully operational, the Adams interactive attraction will result in the addition of 28 jobs and an economic impact of approximately $3 million to the hotel, restaurant and tourism industry in this area. We look forward to this continuing effort.”
If you’re interested in the drive to put the USS Adams in the St. Johns or their displays at the Visitor Center, go to their website at www.adamsclassmuseum.org or stop by the ADAMS Class Museum Visitor Center in the Landing. There are some interactive displays of a navy ship’s inner workings, ship models and merchandise for every branch of the military.
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