Old Town in Alexandria, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

A World War I Shipyard Transforms Jones Point

From Shoals to Ships

— 1918-1921 —

A World War I Shipyard Transforms Jones Point Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 22, 2018

1. A World War I Shipyard Transforms Jones Point Marker

Inscription. During World War I (1914-1918), the U.S. government targeted Jones Point as the site for a private shipyard, one of 111 built to aid the war effort. The Virginia Shipbuilding Corporation yard, constructed just before war's end, was designed to build standardized steel cargo ships. The shipyard included two craneways servicing four shipways—Shipway #1 is before you—a 215' x 450' fabricating shop with upper mold loft, blacksmith shop, boiler shop, an extensive network of rail lines, an 850'-long fitting-out dock, an administration building; and a nearby commissary and restaurant with seating capacity for 2,500.

[Captions:]
1. Delivery of parts from Frabricating Shop to Shipways
2. Erecting the keel and hull
3. Framing the vessel
4. Ship launch to Fitting-out Dock
Look on-site for remnants of the shipway.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War, World I • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 38° 47.54′ N, 77° 2.479′ W. Marker is in Alexandria, Virginia. It is in Old Town. It can be reached from Jones Point Drive east of South

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Royal Street, on the right when traveling east. Marker is in Jones Point Park.

PLEASE NOTE: The automated “Touch for directions” link at the end of this paragraph, when used in driving mode, takes you to I-95’s Wilson Bridge, where you cannot park, much less stop, and then seems to indicate that you should jump off the bridge and walk to the marker. You will surely break your neck—among many other bones—if you jump off the bridge. Instead, set your destination to “Jones Point Park Parking” in order to obtain driving directions to where you can park and walk to the marker.. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Jones Point Dr, Alexandria VA 22314, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: World War I-Era Rudder (within shouting distance of this marker); Potomac Connections (within shouting distance of this marker); Mount Vernon Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Jones Point Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Prehistory to Colonial Settlement (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Emerging Nation (about 300 feet away); World Wars to the Present (about 300 feet away); The First People on Jones Point (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alexandria.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 22, 2018

2. A World War I Shipyard Transforms Jones Point Marker

Map of the site at the base of the marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 22, 2018

3. Map of the site at the base of the marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 23, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 24, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 1,181 times since then and 97 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 24, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.