Wasp Road is a one block long thoroughfare that runs from Octagon Road northwest to Kansas Road. It is named after the Continental Ship Wasp, one of America’s first warships. Wasp was a merchant schooner that was purchased by the Continental Navy in 1775, and operated with success until it was destroyed in 1777. Nine other ships have borne the name USS Wasp, including the aircraft carriers USS Wasp CV-7 and USS Wasp CV-18, both seeing considerable action during World War II. Today the name is borne by USS Wasp LHD-1, an amphibious assault ship launched in 1989.
