This Historic Structure Report presents the results of a historic building documentation and condition assessment of the Landship (Building 415) at Fort Eustis, conducted on behalf of the United States Department of the Air Force at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Newport News, Virginia. This study aids Joint Base Langley-Eustis in managing the historic properties under its jurisdiction, as required by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. Designed by naval architect George G. Sharp and constructed in 1954, the Landship is a stationary, fully outfitted mock cargo ship used by the United States Army Transportation Corps at Fort Eustis as a training facility for soldiers learning cargo handling operations. The study examined the interior and exterior of the Landship’s character-defining engineering and architectural features. Argonne National Laboratory staff assessed the Landship’s condition, with attention to visible structural concerns, damaged or deteriorating construction materials, and any significant alterations to these features. This report provides a history of the Landship’s engineering and construction; a summary of its Cold War Era historic context; documentation of the Landship’s engineers, architects, and construction company; examination of the Landship’s architectural drawings; and a compilation of historic photographs and training films documenting Landship training exercises. This study includes an updated evaluation of the Landship’s eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under Criteria A and C. Recognizing the Landship’s decades of interrupted training operations, this study provides recommended treatments and management priorities for the maintenance and repair of the Landship to ensure that this unique and historically significant building’s features are retained over time while allowing the military to meet its evolving mission needs.
Sennott et al. (2026) studied this question.