All Titles

The deadrise and cross-planked bottom style of boatbuilding started on Chesapeake Bay in the 1880s, when builders of wooden boats began to shift away from constructing vessels out of logs and into using planks to create hulls with a V-shaped bottom. Marine historian Howard I. Chapelle says that the style started in the North and Deep South (on the Gulf of Mexico)—but was not popular in those areas—before coming to Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay’s choppy, shoal water conditions were ideal for a shoal draft, V-bottom style of boat. The availability of good wood, a dynamic cottage industry that grew, and diverse inshore fisheries that supported a bay-wide fleet all encouraged demand for various sizes of wooden deadrise boats on the bay. Over time, the hull style became so popular that in 1985, the State of Maryland named the deadrise and cross-planked sailing skipjack as Maryland’s state boat, and Virginia’s legislature named the motor-powered classic deadrise style as the state boat of Virginia. 

The Sunshine State has a rich maritime history spanning more than five centuries. Tragically, part of that history includes thousands of ships that have met their fates in Florida waters.

Potentially more than 5,000 shipwrecks reside off Florida's 1,200 miles of coastline, with hundreds more lost in the state's interior rivers. In and of itself, the Florida Keys archipelago, consisting of approximately 1,700 islands stretching 200 miles, is littered with the remains of close to 1,000 shipwrecks. In fact, many features of the Florida Keys were named after various shipwreck events, such as Fowey Rocks, which earned its name after the 1748 wrecking of the British warship HMS Fowey, and Alligator Reef, where the schooner USS Alligator met her demise in 1822. Florida's Shipwrecks utilizes captivating images to illustrate dramatic stories of danger and peril at sea, introducing readers to a fascinating cross-section of Florida's shipwreck history.

Ever since ships began navigating the coast of North Carolina, the area has maintained a reputation for being dangerous. Weather, geography, war, piracy, and human error have all contributed to this dense shipwreck zone.

Today, the region that stretches from the Currituck Outer Banks south to Bogue Banks is referred to as the Graveyard of the Atlantic. From the 1585 grounding of the English ship Tiger off the Outer Banks to the 2012 loss of the Bounty, more than 2,000 shipwrecks have occurred in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. The stories behind the shipwrecks illustrate the best and worst of mankind, showing courage and compassion as well as the atrocities of war. This history informs readers about commerce, technology, war, environment, maritime life, and the complexity of the human element.

Norfolk Naval Shipyard has a long history that predates the United States of America. Founded in 1767 as the Gosport Shipyard, it has been burned and rebuilt three times, once to prevent it from getting into the hands of the newly independent state of Virginia and twice during the early years of the Civil War. It has been in continuous operation since it was rebuilt after the American Civil War. Specializing in repairing, overhauling, and modernizing ships and submarines, it is the largest industrial facility owned and operated by the US Navy. Historic photographs from the archives of the Navy History and Heritage Command, the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum, and the Norfolk Naval Shipyard Public Affairs Office tell the story of one of the largest shipyards on earth and exemplify what American hands are capable of creating. These images serve as a reminder of the past for those who were stationed or worked at the shipyard, preserving history for future generations.

Virginia has more shipwrecks than any other state in the continental United States. With 112 miles of Atlantic coast, Virginia includes almost half of the Chesapeake Bay and many major tributaries: the Lynnhaven River, the Elizabeth River, the James River, the York River, and the Rappahannock River. Since the Jamestown settlement in 1607, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of military and merchant vessels have sailed through "the Capes,'? an important economic lifeline linking the United States to the rest of the world. With 3,315 miles of tidal coastline and natural enemies such as water, fire, wind, age, and human fallibility, countless ships and lives have been lost. Virginia Shipwrecks vividly illustrates their story.

Richmond, Virginia, located on the banks of the James River, developed into a major port by the mid-19th century. The city became the shipping point for flour, livestock, vegetables, tobacco, coal, and ironworks. During this period, the James River and Kanawha Company developed a canal system that was highlighted with the construction of five large stone locks, completing the canal connection to the city dock area. Coinciding with development of the city's canal system, industry followed, and by the very early 1800s, large flour mills dotted the city, replacing older, smaller-scale grist mills. This new wealth helped other industries prosper, including cotton and woolen mills, as well as tobacco factories and iron foundries. The looming Civil War had a tremendous impact on Richmond's waterfront activity. With the eventful fall of Richmond to the Union forces, the major port was destroyed by fire. Following the Civil War, the city and industry were rebuilt but the four milling empires never reached the zenith they previously attained. As business for the city gradually began to increase in the late 1800s, increasing consolidation of port activity to cities such as Norfolk, Baltimore, and new York eliminated the need for inland travel by water to ship goods. This does not diminish the fact that inland port cities such as Richmond remained vital in the development of the state and burgeoning nation. In Images of America: Maritime Richmond, author Dale Totty has collected 200 archival images that trace the vital role of the port in Virginia's capital city. Totty is a well-known wildlife articst, history enthusiast, and lifelong Richmond resident.

Situated on the Pasquotank River in northeastern North Carolina, Elizabeth City is known as the "Gateway to the Albemarle." Since its founding in 1793, this small yet industrious river port has relied firmly upon the water as a source of prosperity as well as gratification. During the modern era, the rise of both prominent maritime-based enterprises and notable leisurely pursuits took hold and flourished. From its harbor, Jennette Brothers Wholesalers, Texas Oil, Norfolk & Southern Railroad, and the Globe Fish Company plied the rivers and sounds, bringing their goods and services. By its shores, the Elizabeth City Shipyard constructed and launched dozens of rescue and combat vessels in support of national defense. At the foot of Water Street, the James Adams Floating Theater regularly entertained audiences, and sailing enthusiasts flocked from across the country to compete in and watch the Moth Boat Regattas. Today, along Mariners' Wharf, the Rose Buddies welcome arriving boaters, and near the riverfront, the Museum of the Albemarle continues to promote and interpret the region's history and culture.

The stretch of land known as "East of the Cooper," featuring the charming town of Mount Pleasant, is interwoven with innumerable waterways; these waters pulsate with the ebb and flow of tides like a network of arteries, veins, and capillaries connecting to the living heart that is the sea. Mount Pleasant's location on the Charleston harbor and its deep water access has ensured that the sea has played a major role in the lives of its residents, providing thriving maritime industries that are at once historic and contemporary. East Cooper: A Maritime Heritage is a celebration of those industries and the families and vessels that have contributed to this vital part of Lowcountry culture. Throughout history, indigenous peoples, colonists, plantation owners, and seafood industry entrepreneurs have traversed the miles of rivers, marshy creeks, and coastlines of the East Cooper area. This collection of images demonstrates the ingenuity and artistry of these people whose descendants shared their pasts with the authors as generously as their ancestors shared their skills and intimate relationships with the local waters.