River Oaks in Fort Lauderdale in Broward County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Denison Family Homesite Broward Marine

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, January 26, 2023

1. Denison Family Homesite Broward Marine Marker

Inscription. Honeymooning here in 1948, Frank and Gertrude Denison purchased the shipyard on this site known as Dooley's Boat Basin, renaming it Broward Marine. In 1950, they won the contract to build 11 minesweepers for the Dutch and U.S. navies. The seemingly impossible delivery schedule dictated the launching of seven 144-foot ships every 45 days and four 172-foot ships every 90 days. The local press dubbed the effort "Frank’s Folly." As the largest defense contractor in Florida, Congress mandated the widening of bridges and dredging of canals in the area, along with the building of a railroad spur directly to the yard. Thousands came to Florida in the early 1950s to work at the yard, and many stayed after the program ended. In 1955, Broward Marine launched Alisa V, the largest yacht built in the U.S. since World War II, which began the yacht-building industry here. In 1993, the company had the largest world-wide order book, the first U.S. yacht builder to receive this distinction. The establishment of Fort Lauderdale as a "Yachting Capital of the World" was due to the efforts of people like the Denisons, who made their careers here.

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In 1999, the Denisons sold the shipyard after living and working here for over 50 years.
A Florida Heritage Site

Erected 2021 by The Denison Familt Trust, and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-1176.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1948.

Location. 26° 5.784′ N, 80° 9.733′ W. Marker is in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in Broward County. It is in River Oaks. It is on Southwest 20th Street 0.1 miles west of Southwest 15th Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2020 Southwest 20th Street, Fort Lauderdale FL 33315, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South Florida,

on the Gold Coast,

and in Greater Miami.

It is also in the American South

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, January 26, 2023

2. Denison Family Homesite Broward Marine Marker

of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: In Memory of All American Veterans (approx. ¾ mile away); The Tequesta (approx. 1.3 miles away); The Lewis Family (approx. 1.3 miles away); Rivermont (approx. 1½ miles away); The First Fort Lauderdale (approx. 1½ miles away); West Side Grade School (approx. 1.6 miles away); Cooley's Massacre (approx. 1.6 miles away); Link Trainer Building #8 (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Lauderdale.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 22, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 15, 2023, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 534 times since then and 66 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 15, 2023, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.