Riverfront in Wilmington in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Historic Shipyards
Riverfront Wilmington
Harlan & Hollingsworth & Co., Wilmington, Delaware, 1878
To comply with federal law protecting historic sites, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Delaware State Historic Preservation Office, and the Riverfront Development Corporation worked together on the Riverfront Wilmington project from 1998 to 2000. Archeological excavations at several key points along the Riverfront revealed significant information about Wilmington's historic waterfront industries.
Selected areas of the Harlan and Hollingsworth Shipyard site were stripped, uncovering remains of several launchways as shown below. The remains were sampled to help answer questions about materials and methods used by the shipbuilding industry.
[Captions:]
This photo, taken about 1870, shows the Simpson Patent Drydock installed by Harlan & Hollingsworth to facilitate repair of large ships. The drydock was located west of the Elder Cut stream run and the launchways shown below in excavation.
Below: Sketch plan of excavations on the riverfront that revealed planking of the 19th century Harlan & Hollingsworth shipways now the site of the Harlan & Hollingsworth Overlook.
Workers proudly pose in front of the Wyanoke,
this page online
Erected by Riverfront Wilmington.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1878.
Location. 39° 44.2′ N, 75° 33.477′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, Delaware, in New Castle County. It is in Riverfront. Marker can be reached from River Place east of Justison Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 River Place, Wilmington DE 19801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Korean War Memorial (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Historic Shipyards (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Industrial Revolution (about 800 feet away); The Underground Railroad (approx. 0.2 miles away); South Market Street Bridge (approx. 0.2 miles away); South Market Street Bridge Dedicated in Honor of Senator John E. Reilly, Sr. (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Great Railroad Boom (approx. 0.2 miles away); Freedom Lost (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.
Additional keywords. archaeology
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 1, 2019
4. Tidal Wetlands Marker
Another nearby Nature Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 2, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 214 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 2, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
