Transportation

1955 Ford Country Squire

Americans have always been a people on the move—on rails, roads, and waterways (for travel through the air, visit the National Air and Space Museum). In the transportation collections, railroad objects range from tools, tracks, and many train models to the massive 1401, a 280-ton locomotive built in 1926. Road vehicles include coaches, buggies, wagons, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, and automobiles—from the days before the Model T to modern race cars. The accessories of travel are part of the collections, too, from streetlights, gas pumps, and traffic signals to goggles and overcoats.

In the maritime collections, more than 7,000 design plans and scores of ship models show the evolution of sailing ships and other vessels. Other items range from scrimshaw, photographs, and marine paintings to life jackets from the Titanic.

Racing Go-Kart

A truly "grass roots" sport, organized "go-karting" arose in the late 1950s.
Description
A truly "grass roots" sport, organized "go-karting" arose in the late 1950s. In the 1930s and late 1940s, various types of smaller open-wheeled race cars had been developed for certain classes of organized racing on oval tracks, including the "midget racers" - diminutive but full-fledged, single-seat, high-speed cars. But for would-be racers of limited means in the 1950s, even these midget race cars were out of financial reach. Meanwhile, marketers of leisure-time products had started producing small, motorized "karts" for pre-teens. Such a kart, intended for driving on paved surfaces off the public roadways, had a light frame made of tubular steel, no "body" at all, a rudimentary open seat, and was equipped with a small gasoline engine mounted behind the driver and tiny tires. Adults thought up the idea of installing more-powerful motors, and the racing "go-kart" was born. Racing of such karts by kids was soon organized -- but racing classes for adults were created as well. Such races were sometimes held at regular paved race tracks but were usually run on specialized, short paved courses designed and built expressly for the karts. In the early days, races ran on large parking lots, with courses marked off for the day with stripes and rubber cones.
Many racing drivers who became well known in the 1970s, '80s, and through the present -- such as NASCAR's Jeff Gordon, 'Indy 500' drivers Al Unser, Jr. and Michael Andretti, and European 'Formula-1' drivers -- learned their early skills by becoming champion kart drivers in the classes for pre-teens.
Elwood "Pappy" Hampton (1909-1980), however, was one of thousands who took to the sport as adults. He was a Washington, DC, machinist who became interested in go-kart racing as a hobby. He built several karts, each time refining their design and improving their performance.
This kart is one made about 1960, which Hampton raced frequently from 1960 through 1962 to first-, second-, and third-place finishes, mostly at the Marlboro Speedway in Maryland. In 1962, he won the East Coast Championship. At age 51 in 1960, "Pappy" was one of the oldest successful kart racers in the mid-Atlantic area, hence his nickname.
The kart has a duralumin chassis (duralumin for strength with extreme lightness) made especially for racing karts by Jim Rathmann of Indianapolis (the winning driver in the 1960 Indianapolis 500), and a drive train engineered and made by Hampton. The engine is one made in England, fueled on alcohol.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1960
maker
Hampton, Sr., Elwood N. "Pappy"
Rathmann, James
ID Number
1997.0378.01
accession number
1997.0378
catalog number
1997.0378.01

The Rebel

Flat, rectangular plastic card in white with red and blue print. On the front is an image of the Rebel, a red, silver, and blue train, and a calendar for 1935. On the reverse is a map of Gulf, Mobile & Northern Railroad's routes.
Description (Brief)
Flat, rectangular plastic card in white with red and blue print. On the front is an image of the Rebel, a red, silver, and blue train, and a calendar for 1935. On the reverse is a map of Gulf, Mobile & Northern Railroad's routes. Traffic offices include: Birmingham; Chicago; Detroit; Jackson, Mississippi; Jackson, Tennessee; Kansas City; Memphis; Meridian; Mobile; New Orleans; New York; Pittsburgh; and St. Louis.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1935
advertiser
Gulf, Mobile & Northern Railroad
maker
Whitehead & Hoag Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0616
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0616

Model of the Cargo Ship Del Norte

After WW2, the United States Maritime Commission, in cooperation with the Delta Line, arranged for the redesign of the wartime C-3 cargo ships by naval architect George Sharp.
Description
After WW2, the United States Maritime Commission, in cooperation with the Delta Line, arranged for the redesign of the wartime C-3 cargo ships by naval architect George Sharp. The Delta Line used the three resulting “Del-series” ships to reestablish postwar trade with South America. Del Norte and its sister ships Del Sud and Del Mar were all built in the Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, which had built several C-3 vessels between 1940 and 1947. Del Norte was the first of the three sister ships to be completed and the first to leave the shipyard on November 26, 1946.
Del Norte measured 995 feet in length, 70 feet in beam, and 10,074 tons. It was equipped with new features not previously seen on other, similar vessels, like air conditioning for the passenger, officer and crew accommodations. It also was fitted with postwar radar. For twenty years, Del Norte sailed mainly between the United States, the Caribbean, and South America. In 1967, the Delta Line discontinued its passenger service because of financial difficulty, and the three sister ships were converted to express cargo liners. In 1972, Del Norte was chartered for a one-way trip to Indonesia. One source indicates that it was broken up for scrap after this; another implies that the ship merely disappeared from the record after completing the voyage.
This model was built by Boucher Models of New York after World War II and first appears in the collection of the Insurance Company of North America around 1950.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1946
maker
Boucher, Fred
ID Number
2005.0279.085
accession number
2005.0279
catalog number
2005.0279.085

Ship Model of an American Two-Masted Brig

Donated by the CIGNA Corporation of Philadelphia, PA, this model is of an unknown but fully rigged 19th century American two-masted brig. Adapted from the British brigantine, American brigs were built as early as the 18th century and used frequently by the U.S. Navy.
Description
Donated by the CIGNA Corporation of Philadelphia, PA, this model is of an unknown but fully rigged 19th century American two-masted brig. Adapted from the British brigantine, American brigs were built as early as the 18th century and used frequently by the U.S. Navy. Brigs were extremely efficient and economical and were also used by coastal sea traders and in the West Indies trade.
This particular model was commissioned around 1924 by Captain Frederick Williamson of Snug Harbor, which was a rest home for retired sailors in New York. It was ordered at the same time as 2005.0279.069.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1924
maker
Williamson, Frederick
ID Number
2005.0279.072
accession number
2005.0279
catalog number
2005.0279.072

Painting of a Merchant Vessel

The painting shows a port side view of an unidentified three-masted merchant ship. In the distance, two other ships can be seen. It is probably a cargo/passenger vessel of the period 1860-1870, sailing between Great Britain and Australia.Currently not on view
Description
The painting shows a port side view of an unidentified three-masted merchant ship. In the distance, two other ships can be seen. It is probably a cargo/passenger vessel of the period 1860-1870, sailing between Great Britain and Australia.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1860-1870
maker
Hall, Thomas P.
ID Number
2005.0279.019
accession number
2005.0279
catalog number
2005.0279.019

Model of a Chinese Junk

Made of silver, this decorative model of a three-masted Chinese war junk with square sails, square bow and raised square stern is decorated with three round masks on each side. The deck is fitted with seven cannon, a scored rectangular cabin, three crew figures, and an anchor.
Description
Made of silver, this decorative model of a three-masted Chinese war junk with square sails, square bow and raised square stern is decorated with three round masks on each side. The deck is fitted with seven cannon, a scored rectangular cabin, three crew figures, and an anchor. Four pennants are at the stern, and a pennant flies from each mast. The model is mounted on a carved and scrolled ebony stand and enclosed in a glass top case.
V.I.G. Petersen, who acquired this model, served as an agent for the Insurance Company of North America (INA) in China during the WW2 Japanese invasion. For an account of his successful preservation of INA records and escape from the advancing Japanese troops, see William Carr, Perils Named and Unnamed, 1967, p. 183-200.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca early 20th century
maker
unknown
ID Number
2005.0279.088
catalog number
2005.0279.088
accession number
2005.0279

Pneumatic Grease Gun

The Alemite Company manufactured this pneumatically powered grease guns during the 1930s. An Alemite gun was designed to inject hard or soft grease quickly into a machinery bearing.
Description
The Alemite Company manufactured this pneumatically powered grease guns during the 1930s. An Alemite gun was designed to inject hard or soft grease quickly into a machinery bearing. (Regular greasing of such bearings was needed to prevent friction and bearing failure.) The pneumatically operated gun required a special Alemite "fitting," designed to mate tightly with the business end of the gun, to be installed at every location where grease was to flow from the gun to an internal bearing surface.
The gun, and the fittings, provided a tremendous labor-saving improvement over previous methods of greasing critical internal bearings. In a locomotive roundhouse, a greasing crew of two men could lubricate all the rod bearings of a given locomotive in 20-30 minutes (depending on the size of the locomotive) instead of the hours required previously. A large steam locomotive, running in heavy duty on a railroad, required rod greasing approximately every 100 miles. Such greasing was usually done at a terminal, when a fresh load of fuel was put into the tender and other servicing performed on the locomotive.
Date made
1930s
date made
ca. 1930s
maker
Alemite Company
ID Number
2002.0129.01
catalog number
2002.0129.01
accession number
2002.0129

Painting, Packet ship Berlin

This oil by an unknown artist portrays the packet ship Berlin, built by C.V. Minot at Phippsburg, Maine in 1850. Packet ships were named after the packets of mail they transported. They ran on regular schedules, which helped plan commercial transactions.
Description
This oil by an unknown artist portrays the packet ship Berlin, built by C.V. Minot at Phippsburg, Maine in 1850. Packet ships were named after the packets of mail they transported. They ran on regular schedules, which helped plan commercial transactions. The three-masted square-rigged vessel is sailing into an unidentified harbor against a rocky coastline, with a lighthouse and steamship in the left background.
Berlin measured 222 ft. 5 in. in length by 40 ft. in beam and 1634 tons. Berlin was sold to the Alaska Portland Packers Association at an unknown date and was registered out of Portland, Oregon. This company was most active in the early 20th century and operated a salmon fishery out of several small towns on the Alaskan coast. Berlin's final fate is unknown.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1850
maker
unknown
ID Number
2005.0279.007
accession number
2005.0279
catalog number
2005.0279.007

Socket

Sockets were used to tighten or remove bolts and associated nuts. The mechanic used a bar inserted through a hole in the top end of the socket or used a large, open-end wrench to turn the socket.
Description
Sockets were used to tighten or remove bolts and associated nuts. The mechanic used a bar inserted through a hole in the top end of the socket or used a large, open-end wrench to turn the socket. A long-handled bar or wrench gave considerable leverage in turning or holding the socket. An "extender" could be slipped onto the bar or wrench handle to give even more leverage.
This tool is part of a collection of hand tools used in the inspection and repair of steam locomotives in the early- to the mid-20th century, roughly 1900-1955. Light repairs on steam locomotives were usually done in roundhouses at the many small locomotive terminals throughout a railroad's system; heavy repairs were done in a large, centralized repair shop serving the whole system (often referred to as the "Back Shop").
Date made
1940s
date made
ca. 1940s
used date
1870s-1960s
maker
unknown
ID Number
2002.0075.15
catalog number
2002.0075.15
accession number
2002.0075

Painting Bombarick Rock

Psyche was a brig of war belonging to the British East India Company's private navy. It carried 32 guns and was commanded by Captain Edgecombe.
Description
Psyche was a brig of war belonging to the British East India Company's private navy. It carried 32 guns and was commanded by Captain Edgecombe. Piracy was a constant danger, so besides carrying marine insurance, some bigger companies employed their own private navies to help ward off attack. The picture shows the East India Company's brig of war Psyche attacking and chasing Arab pirates around Bombarick rock in the Persian Gulf on September 13, 1816.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1840
maker
Hornbrook, Thomas L.
ID Number
2005.0279.056
accession number
2005.0279
catalog number
2005.0279.056

Painting of the Merchant Ship Stephen Girard

The sailing ship Stephen Girard was part of the trade from Philadelphia to Canton in 1833. Though named after the wealthy merchant and ship owner Stephen Girard (1750-1831), the ship was never owned by him.
Description
The sailing ship Stephen Girard was part of the trade from Philadelphia to Canton in 1833. Though named after the wealthy merchant and ship owner Stephen Girard (1750-1831), the ship was never owned by him. Girard was a French-born sailor and shipping merchant who settled in Philadelphia almost by accident when the British blockade of the port of New York during the Revolutionary War forced him to sail down the Delaware River instead of into New York harbor as originally planned. He became one of the city's most prominent citizens. As an extremely successful merchant and business person, he amassed the largest fortune of anyone in America up to that time. Girard made several important loans to the federal government to keep the fledgling nation from financial ruin. Most of the ships Girard owned were named after his favorite French authors, like Rousseau, Voltaire, and Montesquieu.
The painting by Sunqua shows a portside view of the ship with a black hull. Mountains can be seen in the background. The water is greenish-blue. The crenellations of a fortress wall can be seen to the right. The Stephen Girard was insured by the Insurance Company of North America (INA), the predescessor of CIGNA, which donated the painting to the Smithsonian.
Sunqua was a 19th century Chinese painter. He was one of the better-known Chinese artisans, although paintings by him are rare. He is known for painting Western ships in Chinese ports.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1860
maker
Sunqua
ID Number
2005.0279.061
accession number
2005.0279
catalog number
2005.0279.061

Environmental Button

This button urges people to find alternatives to driving, such as using public transportation, riding bicycles, or walking.Currently not on view
Description
This button urges people to find alternatives to driving, such as using public transportation, riding bicycles, or walking.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2003.0014.0060
catalog number
2003.0014.0060
accession number
2003.0014

Socket

Sockets were used to tighten or remove bolts and associated nuts. The mechanic used a bar inserted through a hole in the top end of the socket or used a large, open-end wrench to turn the socket.
Description
Sockets were used to tighten or remove bolts and associated nuts. The mechanic used a bar inserted through a hole in the top end of the socket or used a large, open-end wrench to turn the socket. A long-handled bar or wrench gave considerable leverage in turning or holding the socket. An "extender" could be slipped onto the bar or wrench handle to give even more leverage.
This tool is part of a collection of hand tools used in the inspection and repair of steam locomotives in the early- to the mid-20th century, roughly 1900-1955. Light repairs on steam locomotives were usually done in roundhouses at the many small locomotive terminals throughout a railroad's system; heavy repairs were done in a large, centralized repair shop serving the whole system (often referred to as the "Back Shop").
Date made
1940s
date made
ca. 1940s
used date
1870s-1960s
ID Number
2002.0075.16
catalog number
2002.0075.16
accession number
2002.0075

Ship Model of a French Barque

Made ca. 1890, this model is of an unidentified four-masted barque. It has a solid oak hull and scored deck to simulate planking.
Description
Made ca. 1890, this model is of an unidentified four-masted barque. It has a solid oak hull and scored deck to simulate planking. The model is fully rigged, but without sails, and has a galleried stern and bow.
The barque (or bark) is a sailing ship with at least three masts, of which all but the one at the stern is rigged with square sails. The sail at the stern is rigged fore and aft, for handling purposes. In the later 19th century, the bark grew as large as 3,000 tons capacity, mainly for the bulk cargo trade (grains, coal, fertilizers). The biggest sailing ship ever built was the 1911 bark France II of 5,806 tons. Today, the few remaining examples of the type are museum or sail training ships.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1890
maker
unknown
ID Number
2005.0279.073
accession number
2005.0279
catalog number
2005.0279.073

Model of Sloop of War USSJamestown

The USS Jamestown was built in 1844/45 at Gosport Navy Yard, Virginia. It measured 157 feet 6 inches in length, 35 feet in width, and 16 feet 2 inches in depth of hold.
Description
The USS Jamestown was built in 1844/45 at Gosport Navy Yard, Virginia. It measured 157 feet 6 inches in length, 35 feet in width, and 16 feet 2 inches in depth of hold. One of the last sloops built for the old sailing navy, it was the largest of a class of 7 and carried four 8-inch Paxihan Shell guns and eighteen 32-pounders. Its first cruise was to the coast of Africa, where it served as flagship for Commodore Charles Skinner in the suppression of the slave trade. In 1847 she and Macedonian delivered food to Ireland to help ease the hunger caused by the potato blight. During the Civil War, Jamestown was assigned to the Atlantic Blockading Squadron. It captured several ships during her service there. It cruised various other places including South America, Hawaii, Alaska, and France. It was transferred to the Treasury Department, and used as a quarantine ship, it was destroyed by a fire in Norfolk Navy Yard in 1913.
The rigged model is plank-on-frame and open below the water line. It has open and exposed deck and hull framing as well as planked sides, with contrasting light and dark planks on raised niches at bow and stern. there is a carved eagle at the stern.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1844
maker
unknown
ID Number
2005.0279.087
accession number
2005.0279
catalog number
2005.0279.087

Ship Model of the British Warship HMS Centurion

Built in 1732, H.M.S. Centurion was a British 60-gun fourth rate ship-of-the-line—the fourth largest class of warship in the Royal Navy. It measured 144 feet in length, 40 feet 10 inches in beam, and 1,005 tons.
Description
Built in 1732, H.M.S. Centurion was a British 60-gun fourth rate ship-of-the-line—the fourth largest class of warship in the Royal Navy. It measured 144 feet in length, 40 feet 10 inches in beam, and 1,005 tons. Over the course of an extremely long and active 37-year career, Centurion contributed to the trials of the world’s first chronometer in 1736 and served as flagship for Captain George Anson’s circumnavigation (1740-44), after which it was rebuilt. In company with H.M.S. Norwich, Centurion escorted troops to America in 1754 to help the colonies with the uprising of Native Americans working with the French. The ship was broken up in Chatham, Great Britain, in 1769.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1840
maker
unknown
ID Number
2005.0279.076
accession number
2005.0279
catalog number
2005.0279.076

1967 Pontiac Grand Prix

As high-speed, limited-access highways were built across the nation in the 1960s, exploring America in a "king of the road" like this 1967 Pontiac Grand Prix convertible became the ultimate driving experience.
Description
As high-speed, limited-access highways were built across the nation in the 1960s, exploring America in a "king of the road" like this 1967 Pontiac Grand Prix convertible became the ultimate driving experience. In 1967 Guenther and Siewchin Yong Sommer set out to see America and visit as many natural and historic sites as possible. During the next 32 years they drove this car 150,000 miles, visiting 251 national parks, monuments, memorials, forests, historic sites, historic parks, seashores, recreation areas, historic trails, and scenic areas. They stayed on the road as long as a month at a time, sometimes sleeping in the car. The Sommers drove to all 49 continental states, including a trip to Alaska on the old Alaska Highway. Mrs. Sommer donated this all-original Pontiac to the Smithsonian in 1999.
More horsepower, style, comfort, and the pleasures of driving-these were the qualities that appealed to owners of "performance cars" like the Pontiac Grand Prix in the 1960s. Americans were devoting more time to leisure activities on and off the road, and fast, sporty luxury cars became popular among drivers of all ages. Pontiac's performance models helped define this market. The Grand Prix typified this era with its sleek shape, rakish fenders, and optional 428 cubic-inch V-8 engine, as well as the race car heritage of its name. Pontiac manufactured the Grand Prix convertible only in 1967.
date made
1967
maker
General Motors Corporation
ID Number
1999.0328.01
accession number
1999.0328
catalog number
1999.0328.01

Model of a Sampan

The model is of a sampan, a small trading vessel used along rivers and coastal areas in China. They are usually rigged for sailing, though some are propelled by oars. The model has a squared bow and a raised squared stern. It is made of teak and has a gold painted boot topping.
Description
The model is of a sampan, a small trading vessel used along rivers and coastal areas in China. They are usually rigged for sailing, though some are propelled by oars. The model has a squared bow and a raised squared stern. It is made of teak and has a gold painted boot topping. The keel and rudder are pierced by diamond shaped motifs. A single canvas sail is raised on a chamfered mast above an open hold with three transverse ladders across the opening. The model is fitted with two oars, four covered boxes and two anchors attached with chains to crank mechanisms on the bow. A brass plate attached below the mast is marked "made by/A. King/Hong Kong."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1850
maker
King, A.
ID Number
2005.0279.096
accession number
2005.0279
catalog number
2005.0279.096

Painting, Wooden Barque William Ritson

The William Ritson was built at Maryport, Cumberland, England in 1864 by Ritson, a merchant family in Whitehaven. It measured 164 feet in length and 680 tons. The ship was owned by F. Johnston and Company and was registered at Mayport until 1884.
Description
The William Ritson was built at Maryport, Cumberland, England in 1864 by Ritson, a merchant family in Whitehaven. It measured 164 feet in length and 680 tons. The ship was owned by F. Johnston and Company and was registered at Mayport until 1884. Ownership passed to Kayton and Simpson until 1890, when the ship was sold to Argentinean owners. Shortly after that, in 1891 it was sold again and renamed Hiram. It was broken up in 1905. The painting depicts the William Ritson under full sail, heading into a harbor. The port side of the ship is shown with the bow tilted upward. The ship is calling for a pilot. Also pictured in the background are Skerries lighthouse and Anglesey. The painting has been variously attributed to either J. Scott (1840-1872) or Samuel Walters (1811-1882). See CIGNA catalogue entry for details.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1867
maker
Scott, John
ID Number
2005.0279.044
accession number
2005.0279
catalog number
2005.0279.044

Painting of Hong Kong, China

In the early 19th century, the Chinese did not permit foreigners in mainland China, so Europeans or Americans wishing to conduct business with Chinese merchants had to travel to specially designated Chinese ports.
Description
In the early 19th century, the Chinese did not permit foreigners in mainland China, so Europeans or Americans wishing to conduct business with Chinese merchants had to travel to specially designated Chinese ports. Hong Kong, or "Fragrant Harbor," was a treaty port granted to the British in 1842 as a result of the Opium Wars.
This busy scene from ca. 1860 by Chinese artist Taicheong depicts several foreign ships at anchor as they await their next cargo. Colonnaded hongs or factories (warehouses and living quarters) line the shore several deep, right up to the foot of Victoria Peak. Chinese port paintings such as this one executed by Chinese artist Taicheong were produced in large numbers as souvenirs for the foreign sea traders who visited the port.
The vessel in the foreground of the painting is an American three-masted square-rigged ship; its prominence may hint at the painting's owner. Just behind it is a large British warship, converted to a storage hulk or receiving ship where men and cargo could be stationed. There are four little English steamships as well as a Danish one, and a French brig rounds out the foreign fleet. Chinese junks and sampans also move around the busy scene. Off to the far right there is even a sizeable American sidewheel paddle steamer painted white, identifiable by its hogging truss bridging its upper deck, the distinctive paddle box and other features.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1860
maker
Taicheong
ID Number
2005.0279.029
accession number
2005.0279
catalog number
2005.0279.029

Ship Model United States Victory

United States Victory was constructed in 1944 for wartime cargo service at the California Shipbuilding Corporation, which was created specifically for the WWII shipbuilding effort. It measured 455 feet 3 inches in length, 62 feet in beam, and 10, 757 tons.
Description
United States Victory was constructed in 1944 for wartime cargo service at the California Shipbuilding Corporation, which was created specifically for the WWII shipbuilding effort. It measured 455 feet 3 inches in length, 62 feet in beam, and 10, 757 tons. United States Victory was used as a troopship during the war and in 1945/46 it exchanged prisoners, taking German POWS to Le Havre, France, picking up American troops in Bremerhaven, Germany and returning them to the United States. In 1947 the ship was sold into private ownership. It was scrapped in 1971.
The WW2 Victory ship was built to carry more cargo and operate faster than the earlier Liberty Ship. The first Victory was delivered in February 1944; by November that year, 82 of them were commissioned. After Pearl Harbor, many Victory ships were converted to transport vessels, and they saw heavy service in the Pacific. Liberty ships were designed for fast mass construction to meet the demand for the cargo space necessary to supply allied forces abroad. They were manned by merchant marine crews and also carried naval gun crews. After the war, some of the ships were scrapped, but many others were sold as surplus property and used to transport products around the world.
This model was built by the Boucher Model Company of New York in 1946 and acquired by the Insurance Company of North America by 1950.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1946
maker
Boucher, Fred
ID Number
2005.0279.090
accession number
2005.0279
catalog number
2005.0279.090

North Carolina

North Carolina was one of nine ships commissioned by Congress in 1816, and was built at the U.S. Navy Yard in Philadelphia in 1820. The ship measured 196.30 feet long and weighed 2,633 tons. North Carolina was a 74-gun ship-of-the-line, a popular size for ships at the time.
Description
North Carolina was one of nine ships commissioned by Congress in 1816, and was built at the U.S. Navy Yard in Philadelphia in 1820. The ship measured 196.30 feet long and weighed 2,633 tons. North Carolina was a 74-gun ship-of-the-line, a popular size for ships at the time. However, North Carolina had gunports for 102 guns and in 1845 carried a total of 90. North Carolina was considered one of the most formidable U.S. Navy ships of its time. The North Carolina was first commanded by Master Commandant Charles W. Morgan who served aboard until 1824. North Carolina was later the flagship for Commodore John Rodger in the Mediterranean Sea, from 1825 to 1827. Roger's squadron helped lay the groundwork for a treaty with Turkey which would open up the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea to American trade. After being decommissioned in October 1836, the North Carolina sailed to the Pacific Station, one of the only locations a ship of her size at that time could operate. While in the eastern Pacific, the North Carolina protected important American commerce. But due to its size, it was not as maneuverable as other ships and it was sent to New York Navy Yard in 1839 where it served as a receiving ship, housing new sailors until they were assigned a crew, until 1866. The ship was sold in 1867.
The painting shows North Carolina's port profile. She appears to be taking down her sails in preparation for anchoring. The famous frigate Constitution (1797) is moored in the distant left.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1820
maker
unknown
ID Number
2005.0279.022
accession number
2005.0279
catalog number
2005.0279.022

Painting of the Champlain

Champlain was built in 1834 in New York by an unknown builder and measured 131.10 ft. long and 624.46 tons. The ship was owned by W. Platt, H.F. Hollingshead and others of Philadelphia. W.
Description
Champlain was built in 1834 in New York by an unknown builder and measured 131.10 ft. long and 624.46 tons. The ship was owned by W. Platt, H.F. Hollingshead and others of Philadelphia. W. Platt was the father of the 8th president of the Insurance Company of North America, Charles Platt, and great uncle of the 11th president, John Osgood Platt. The ship was regularly involved in the tea trade between Philadelphia and China, at one point captioned by Caption A.A. Ritchie. The painting is a windward view of the Champlain where the ship is tipped away from the viewer, which is unusual. The ship is displayed in Liverpool harbor, with a lighthouse and fortress (Perch Rock Fort) to the right of the ship. Two pillars in the background are Bootle landmarks, used for navigation. The painting was hung in a specially designed molding in the office of the President of the Insurance Company of North America from 1925 when the company was founded until 1991.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1836
maker
Walters, Samuel
ID Number
2005.0279.020
accession number
2005.0279
catalog number
2005.0279.020

Painting, Bellona and Minerva

The Bellona was built in Westmorland, New Brunswick by William Venning in 1826. It measured 106 feet long and 402 tons. The Minerva was built in Truro, Nova Scotia by William Walker; in 1826. It measured 101 feet long and 308 tons.
Description
The Bellona was built in Westmorland, New Brunswick by William Venning in 1826. It measured 106 feet long and 402 tons. The Minerva was built in Truro, Nova Scotia by William Walker; in 1826. It measured 101 feet long and 308 tons. Both ships were owned in part by James Battersby & Co. and Richard Battersby of Belfast. In the painting the Bellona is shown with a full press of sail with the lower fore-studding sail only just being sent down. Minerva is turned into the wind under reduced sail, about to anchor. Minerva is identifiable by its name at the stern. Other small ships can be seen in the painting.
Artist Miles Walters was born in 1774 and died in 1849. He was a shipwright, and later a seaman, after leaving the sea Miles moved to London. He later moved to Liverpool with third son Samuel Walters (1811-1882), where he was listed in the directories as an artist. He worked on several pieces with his son Samuel who studied at the Liverpool Mechanics School of Arts. Samuel became one of the most popular marine painters of his time.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1832
maker
Walters, Samuel
Walters, Miles
ID Number
2005.0279.031
accession number
2005.0279
catalog number
2005.0279.031

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