Fairbanks in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)
Practical Shipbuilding
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024
1. Practical Shipbuilding Marker
"Nenana marks the end of the period of practical shipbuilding, during which master shipwrights accumulated knowledge as apprentices and craftsmen, and constructed ships using measurements obtained from half hull models that were then scaled up to produce the patterns for the hull. This artisan-based approach - known as practical shipbuilding - continued until the late 1920's in BC and the Yukon.
The practical method was gradually replaced by scientific shipbuilding, which used formal design and blue print production as the first step in the construction process. Until Nenana there were no surviving early examples of these blueprints. Hence naval architect W.C. Nickum's 1932 set of original blueprints for Nenana is a significant discovery, and the first known set of blueprints found for a wooden hulled stern-wheel steamboat in the Yukon drainage and BC."
Excerpt from "2017 Hull Assessment of Nenana National Historic Landmark Fairbanks, Alaska" by John C. Pollack, The Institute of Nautical Archaeology
Erected by Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in
this page online
Location. 64° 50.343′ N, 147° 46.326′ W. Marker is in Fairbanks, Alaska, in Fairbanks North Star Borough. It can be reached from Airport Way. Marker and Steamer Nenana are in Pioneer Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2300 Airport Way, Fairbanks AK 99701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Alaska Railroad Corridor, in the Athabascan Region, and in Interior Alaska. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, the Pacific Rim, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Russian Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Jack Williams (here, next to this marker); "Last Lady of the River" (here, next to this marker); SS Nenana's Three Captains (here, next to this marker); Steamer Nenana in World War II (here, next to this marker); Sherwin Home (a few steps from this marker); Allen Cabin (a few steps from this marker);
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024
2. Practical Shipbuilding Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024
3. Steamer Nenana - "Last Lady of the River"
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024
4. Steamer Nenana - "Last Lady of the River"
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024
5. Steamer Nenana Dimensions Marker
The SS Nenana is 237 ft. Long, 42 ft. Wide
with 22,000 square feet of deck space.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 12, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 144 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 12, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
