Point Barrow was laid down 18 September 1956 by Maryland Drydock and Shipbuilding Company of Baltimore; launched 25 May 1957; sponsored by Mrs. Ruthven E. Libbey; and delivered to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) 28 May 1958, where she was placed in service the following day.

Especially designed for Arctic operations, Point Barrow was constructed along the general lines of a landing ship dock, but with strengthened hull and bow, and special insulation.

Reclassified a "Deep Submergence Support Ship" and renamed USS Point Loma (AGDS-2) circa 1974, she was ultimately placed out of service and struck from the Naval Vessel Register 28 September 1993.

Custody was transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay in Benicia, California.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.