Wharves in the Late 1800s

Wharves in the Late 1800s. Salem Maritime National Historical Site. Not until the later 1800s did we have photographs of sailing vessels berthed along wharves here, but by then we had declined as a world port. The shallow harbor could not accommodate the clipper ships and larger vessels that dominated the seas after 1850. Much of Salem’s trade went to New York and Boston where the harbors were deeper and wider., After 1870 Salem’s ships no longer brought exotic goods from the Orient. Instead they plied coastal waters, hauling lumber from Maine and coal from Pennsylvania. As Salem turned from commerce to manufacturing, its ships imported cotton and hides to be exported as textiles and shoes., From this viewpoint you can see what remains of three historic wharves-Derby 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., (Photo of Derby Wharf) Derby Wharf about 1890 as it looked from near this point. The ship Mindora is docked in the foreground. Warehouses once lined the wharf, but none remain today. The wharves have been modified and repaired many times.