1. The Virginia Shipbuilding Corporation
The Virginia Shipbuilding Corporation was established hastily within 85 days in 1917 to produce 12 steel ships for the World War I effort. The industry was "a mammoth enterprise" and expected to employ 7,000 workers. Most of the shipyard was constructed on 46 acres of fill placed within Battery Cove in 1910. One brick building (1a) and concrete foundations of the four large shipways (1b) and their two craneways (1c) are the tangible remains of Alexandria's last surviving shipyard from a shipbuilding tradition dating back to the 1750s. Archaeologists from URS Greiner, Inc. excavated and recorded the foundations of the shipways and buildings in Spring 2000, as part of environmental review required by the Woodrow Wilson Bridge project.

The launching of the Gunston Hall at the Virginia Ship Building Corp., February 27, 1919. Note Jones Point Lighthouse at right edge of photo. Detail of photograph by Caulkins, Alexandria, Virginia. Alexandria Archaeology Collection.

1A. Administration Building
Remarkably similar to early photographs, this structure once housed the officers of the Virginia Shipbuilding Corporation. More recently, it was used as the Jones Point U.S. Army Reserve Center. It is slated for demolition for the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge.

1B. Shipways
Archaeologists found concrete foundations of the four giant shipways just below the surface in the wooded areas of Jones Point Park. The photograph shows square concrete pads from the structure's west end, joined by brick walls. Huge scaffolds sat atop the brick and concrete substructures, surrounding the ships during construction. The completed ships could easily slip into the water along the inclined shipways. President Woodrow Wilson drove the first rivet in the merchant ship Gunston Hall in May 30, 1918. This ship was launched from the northernmost shipway.

1C. Craneways
This long concrete beam and another to its north held tracks for the enormous cranes which carried materials along the shipways. This craneway was between the two northernmost shipways. Another craneway now forms a path through the woods to a fishing pier. Nine keels were laid as workers were inspired with words like: "Stick to the job boys; hammer the rivets home! Think of everyone as a blow to the Kaiser."