Miami in Miami-Dade County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
RMK Merrill Stevens Shipyard
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, July 13, 2023
1. RMK Merrill Stevens Shipyard Marker
Inscription.
RMK Merrill Stevens Shipyard. . One of Florida’s most enduring businesses, RMK Merrill Stevens shipyard on the Miami River traces its beginnings to the Merrill brothers, James and Alexander, and Arthur Stevens. In 1885, they incorporated the Merrill-Stevens Engineering Co. in Jacksonville, a business that included ship repair. In the early 1920s, Merrill-Stevens purchased a boatyard on the north bank of the Miami River. A few years later, the facility was destroyed by the 1926 Great Miami hurricane, and was quickly rebuilt. During World War II, under the direction of Alec Balfe, Merrill-Stevens oversaw the conversion of hundreds of pleasure crafts into naval support vessels, receiving for its efforts the Army-Navy “E” Award for excellence. Following the war, the firm engaged in the repair and storage of vintage sailing ships, yachts of the rich and famous, vessels featured in movies, including military craft during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The 2008 Great Recession stalled the fortunes of Merrill-Stevens until it was purchased by prominent Turkish businessman and ardent sailor Rahmi M. Koc, who heavily invested in a new, state-of-the-art physical plant on the site of the old sheds on the north bank of the river. , A Florida Heritage Site
One of Florida’s most enduring businesses, RMK Merrill Stevens shipyard on the Miami River traces its beginnings to the Merrill brothers, James and Alexander, and Arthur Stevens. In 1885, they incorporated the Merrill-Stevens Engineering Co. in Jacksonville, a business that included ship repair. In the early 1920s, Merrill-Stevens purchased a boatyard on the north bank of the Miami River. A few years later, the facility was destroyed by the 1926 Great Miami hurricane, and was quickly rebuilt. During World War II, under the direction of Alec Balfe, Merrill-Stevens oversaw the conversion of hundreds of pleasure crafts into naval support vessels, receiving for its efforts the Army-Navy “E” Award for excellence. Following the war, the firm engaged in the repair and storage of vintage sailing ships, yachts of the rich and famous, vessels featured in movies, including military craft during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The 2008 Great Recession stalled the fortunes of Merrill-Stevens until it was purchased by prominent Turkish businessman and ardent sailor Rahmi M. Koc, who heavily invested in a new, state-of-the-art physical plant on the site of the old sheds on the north bank of the river.
A Florida Heritage Site
Erected 2020 by RMK Merrill Stevens Shipyard and the Florida Department of State.
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(Marker Number F-1119.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1920.
Location. 25° 47.035′ N, 80° 12.989′ W. Marker is in Miami, Florida, in Miami-Dade County. Marker is on Northwest 11th Street just west of Northwest 12th Avenue, on the left when traveling west. Marker is located on the fence between the shipyard and road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1270 NW 11th Street, Miami FL 33125, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . RMK Merrill Stevens Company. (Submitted on July 23, 2023, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.)
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, July 13, 2023
2. RMK Merrill Stevens Shipyard Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 23, 2023, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 73 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 23, 2023, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.
