Bellingham in Whatcom County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

Northwest Shipbuilding Company

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, July 21, 2021

1. Northwest Shipbuilding Company Marker (lower panel)

Inscription. From 1942 to 1944, Pacific American Fisheries leased its shipyard to the Northwest Shipbuilding Company, which formed in response to World War II to construct military vessels for the US Army and US Navy. The Northwest Shipbuilding Company invested approximately $150,000 to enlarge and modernize the 12-acre property at the end of Harris Avenue in Fairhaven. This effort included the construction of a marine railway, 11 shipways, a new machine shop (known as the Carpenter Building), and the Harris Avenue Pier. Most of the site was located on land west of where the Bellingham Cruise Terminal stands today.

Bellingham Bay was home to two large shipyards during World War II - the Northwest Shipbuilding Company and Bellingham Shipyards. The Northwest Shipbuilding Company's facility was one of Bellingham's largest employers with as many as 1,000 employees working around the clock, seven days a week. By the end of the war, the shipyard here had built at least 25 ships. Bellingham Shipyards also produced wooden-hulled minesweepers and was the largest privately owned shipyard in the US during the war. Together, these shipyards helped the region garner a national reputation for quality shipbuilding.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce

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• War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is November 15, 1942.

Location. 48° 43.312′ N, 122° 30.779′ W. Marker is in Bellingham, Washington, in Whatcom County. Marker is on Harris Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 355 Harris Avenue, Bellingham WA 98225, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Schooner Zodiac (here, next to this marker); Pacific American Fisheries (a few steps from this marker); Original Inhabitants of the Area (a few steps from this marker); Commercial Point Shipyard (a few steps from this marker); Early Bellingham Bay (within shouting distance of this marker); Fairhaven (within shouting distance of this marker); The 1909 Fairhaven Empress Tree (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Site of Puget Sound Sawmills and Shingle Company (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bellingham.

More about this marker. This marker is the sixth of seven related markers surrounding the perimeter of the Bellingham Cruise Terminal.

Northwest Shipbuilding Company Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, July 21, 2021

2. Northwest Shipbuilding Company Marker - wide view

Northwest Shipbuilding Company Marker <i>(upper panel)</i> image. Click for full size.

November 15, 1942

3. Northwest Shipbuilding Company Marker (upper panel)

Ship-launching ceremonies at the Northwest Shipbuilding Company were festive activities that drew dignitaries and thousands of spectators from the community to join employees as they celebrated completion of new vessels. On November 15, 1942, the shipyard launched its first five vessels, known as the "Victory Quintuplet".

Marker inset: wooden-hulled ships image. Click for full size.

courtesy of Galen Biery Papers, Western Washington University

4. Marker inset: wooden-hulled ships

Wooden-hulled ships were valued because there was as shortage of metal during WW II, and wood reduced the potential of detonating magnetized mines attracted to metal ships.

Marker inset: Charles Taylor image. Click for full size.

courtesy of Galen Biery Papers, Western Washington University

5. Marker inset: Charles Taylor

Charles Taylor, who became a shipbuilding expert during WW I, served as the Fairhaven shipyard's construction superintendent during WW II.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 9, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 9, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 203 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 9, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.