Wharves in the late 1800's

Wharves in the late 1800's. Salem Maritime National Historic Site. , The earliest photographs of Salem's wharves date from the late 1800s, as the great age of sail was coming to an end. Salem achieved its greatest trade successes in the early 1800, and saw a decline throughout the 19th century. One reason was the shallow harbor, which could not accommodate the large clipper ships and other oversize vessles that dominated the seas after 1840. As a result, much of Salem's trade went to New York and Boston where the harbors were deeper., As Salem invested in manufacturing facilities, its ships imported more and more raw materials from around the world, like cotton and hides, which were made into textiles and shoes and then exported. After 1870, Salem's ships no longer brought exotic goods from the Orient. Instead they plied coastal waters, hauling lumber from Canada and coal from Pennsylvania., From here, you can see Salem Maritime's three remaining historic wharves, Dery Wharf on your left, Central Wharf on your right, and Hatch's Wharf where you are standing. The wharves are built of timber and stone with earth fill, and have been modified and repaired throughout the years. To your right is the remains of a 19th century marine railway used to remove vessels from the harbor for repair.,

Derby Wharf… "is now burdened with decayed wooden warehouses, and exhibits few or no symptoms of commercial life; except, perhaps, a bark or brig, half-way down its melancholy length…" , , Nathaniel Hawthorne, "The Custom House" introduction to The Scarlet Letter, 1850

, [Captions:] , The short wharf in front of you is Hatch's Wharf, built in 1819. In the late 1800s, the wharf was owned by Lemuel Hatch, whose sales office stood about hwere you are standing now. In this 1874 photograph, Hatch's office is on the right, and on the left are the warehouses lining Derby Wharf., Derby Wharf about 1890. The ship Mindoro, the last square rigger registered in Salem is docked in the foreground.