USS Ted Stevens arrives in Juneau, public tours offered Thursday and Friday

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Participants must be U.S. citizens and register online; downtown block party scheduled 4-8 p.m. Thursday

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

The USS Ted Stevens, a newly commissioned U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer, arrived in Juneau on Wednesday, and is scheduled to offer public tours on Thursday and Friday before departing Sunday.

Tours are being offered from noon to 4:30 p.m. both days, which people must register for online, according to an announcement shared by Capital City Fire/Rescue on its Facebook page.

"Due to security requirements, you must be a US citizen," the announcement states.

The tours last about 30 minutes, with the last one each day beginning at 4 p.m., according to the registration website. The ship is at the Juneau Cruise Ship Terminal Area at 475 S. Franklin St.

The USS Ted Stevens, named in tribute to the former longtime U.S. senator from Alaska, is a Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer that was commissioned Saturday in Whittier.

A downtown block party celebrating the ship’s visit is scheduled on Front Street from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday. The free event, which includes live music and artistic activities, is hosted by the Juneau Downtown Business Association, and sponsored by the USS Ted Stevens Commissioning Committee and the Navy League of the United States.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.