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]
Montage of four titled vignette views showing the Philadelphia landmarks: "Franklin Library in 1800" (Library Hall) at Fifth and Library streets; "Pennsylvania Hospital in 1800" on Pine Street between Eighth and Ninth streets; "Swedes Church Southwark" (Gloria Dei); and "High St. Market House in 1800" above Second Street. Depicts the exterior of the library, hospital, and church, and the interior of the busy market shed., Proof copy., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited.
Creator
Birch, William Russell, 1755-1834
Date
[1828]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Birch's views [Sn 41a/P.2276.76]
