Meetings of the Fairfax County Historical Society

Sunday, December 4, 2011 at 2:00 PM
The City of Fairfax Regional Library
10360 North Street
Fairfax, VA 22030

Shipbuilding on the Bay and the Highways of Water

From Delmarva’s earliest backyard-built wooden sailboats to the Baltimore steamers and now steel-hulled ships of today, the tradition of shipbuilding is also the story of changing technology and adaptations to transport people, products, and produce in Virginia and Maryland.

Baltimore is not the birthplace of the original Clipper Ships, record-setting fast sailing freight carriers, but the Baltimore practice of innovation and invention exemplified by the development and enhancements are seen in the smaller Baltimore Clippers, schooners, and barques, the styles benefitting from the adaptation and adoption of the classic Clipper design.

William Skinner established in a shipyard in Baltimore in 1815. The firm became William Skinner & Sons until 1899, and then was known as the William Skinner & Sons Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company of Baltimore City. The story of the Skinner family and their shipbuilding is a story of the region’s marine industry, the role of the water highways, and evolving economies.

Our speaker will be Robert E. Pratt, professional cartographer.

There will be on display, and for purchase, three maps by Mr. Pratt: Shipwrecks of Delmarva, Shipwrecks of New England, and Battle of Hampton Roads (Clash of the Ironclads). In addition there will be National Geographic Society maps (free) designed by Robert Pratt over his 28 years with NGS.

Reservations not required for this program
Open to the public without charge.

Questions?
Call Jacque-Lynne Schulman (h) 703-442-9370, (c) 703-980-5181
or e-mail at: schulm@erols.com

or Suzanne Levy: Suzanne.Levy@fairfaxcounty.gov

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