Although the yard infrastructure remained, the workforce rapidly diminished and work shifted toward peacetime uses — repair, conversion and other industrial functions.
The post-war closure marked the end of an intense chapter: a war economy yard that had ramped up with extraordinary momentum and then scaled back almost as rapidly. Many workers returned to civilian employment, and the yard’s facilities were repurposed.
Post-War Transition and Site Redevelopment
After ship production ended, the site underwent a series of changes. The land and facilities passed through industrial uses — repair yards, terminal operations and other maritime support services. Over time, much of the riverfront site was redeveloped for other uses, including parking lots, express-way approaches and commercial real-estate.
Despite the physical yard’s disappearance, the legacy of the St. Johns River Shipbuilding Company remained embedded in Jacksonville’s identity. The city chronicled the yard’s output, and the local museum lists the yard as a major historical site. shutdown123