Old Town in Alexandria, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Mountains of Materials and Massive Manpower

Fighting World War I

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, October 7, 2012

1. Mountains of Materials and Massive Manpower Marker

Inscription. The concrete foundations you see here were part of a craneway servicing two shipways and launch sites -- elements of an enormous World War I-era shipyard. To speed delivery of cargo ships needed for the war effort, the Virginia Shipbuilding Corporation hired thousands of workers and ordered tens of thousands of tons of steel. The yard's 7,000 workers and support staff used mass production techniques developed by the auto industry to move materials and speed assembly of simple, pre-fabricated steel components. The first ship, the SS Gunston Hall, took just over a year to complete.

Calling All Hands

Employees of the shipyard knew they were racing the clock to build the ships needed to win the war. To turn out ships as quickly as possible, the U.S. Emergency Fleet Corporation sought both experienced shipbuilders, and anyone who could use construction tools.

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War, World I • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 38° 47.529′ N, 77° 2.375′ W. Marker is in Alexandria, Virginia. It is in Old Town. It can be reached from Jones Point Drive 0.3 miles east

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of South Royal Street, on the right when traveling east. Marker is along the Potomac south of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in Jones Point Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Alexandria VA 22314, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Race to Build Ships on Jones Point (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Tale of Three Jurisdictions (about 400 feet away); A World War I Shipyard Transforms Jones Point (about 500 feet away); World War I-Era Rudder (about 600 feet away); Potomac Connections (about 600 feet away); Mistress Margaret Brent (about 600 feet away); The Remarkable Margaret Brent (about 600 feet away); Who Owns the River? (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alexandria.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, October 7, 2012

2. Mountains of Materials and Massive Manpower Marker

Calling All Hands image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, October 7, 2012

3. Calling All Hands

Ship under constrution at the pre-assembly yard image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, October 7, 2012

4. Ship under constrution at the pre-assembly yard

Bronze Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, October 7, 2012

5. Bronze Plaque

A gang of expert riveters could hammer home up to 1,200 Rivets per day.

Concrete remains of the craneway image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, October 7, 2012

6. Concrete remains of the craneway

Credits. This page was last revised on January 28, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2012, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 916 times since then and 19 times this year. Last updated on January 3, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on December 19, 2012, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.