Busy scene at Federal Street near the Delaware River showing several laborers constucting the U.S. Navy warship, "Philadelphia," one of a number of frigates built to defend the nation's merchant fleet from foreign enemies. Construction occured at Wharton-Humphreys shipyard from 1798 to 1799, under naval builder Joshua Humphreys. Depicts the workers sawing, axing, and carrying slats of wood up a long plank to the top of the hull of the unfinished ship. A man, possibly Humphreys or the ship designer, Josiah Fox, and a woman, watch the construction from the side. Several buildings stand in the background, including the city's oldest church, Gloria Dei (Old Swedes) Church, built in 1700., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, with corrections., Illustrated in S. Robert Teitleman's Birch's Views of Philadelphia (Philadelphia: The Free Library of Philadelphia, 1982, rev. 2000), p. 29.
Creator
W. Birch & Son
Date
1800
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Birch's views [Sn 29/P.2276.67]
Northeast view from the site of the Treaty Tree, the legendary location of William Penn's treaty with the Delaware Indians in 1682. Depicts a pier with docked boats; laborers, including shipbuilders, at work; and individuals relaxing, fishing, leading a horse, and strolling near a fenced property displaying the American flag. The Treaty Tree or Great Elm Tree blew down in 1810., Illustrated in S. Robert Teitelman's Birch's Views of Philadelphia (Philadelphia: The Free Library of Philadelphia, 1982, rev. 2000), Pl. 2., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited.
Creator
Birch, William Russell, 1755-1834, engraver
Date
[1828]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Birch's views [Sn 2c/P.2276.4]
