Drydock Number One, Norfolk Naval Shipyard facts for kids
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Drydock Number One, Norfolk Naval Shipyard
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1827 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000862 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 26, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | November 11, 1971 |
Drydock Number One is a very important place in American history. It is the oldest working drydock in the entire United States! A drydock is like a special parking spot for ships that lets workers fix them below the waterline.
This amazing drydock is located at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia. It started working in 1834 and has been used ever since. One of its most famous moments was during the American Civil War. A ship called the USS Merrimack was brought here. It was changed into a powerful armored ship called the CSS Virginia for the Southern states. Because of its long and important history, Drydock Number One was named a National Historic Landmark in 1971.
Contents
What is Drydock Number One Like?
Drydock Number One is found on the western side of the central part of the Elizabeth River. It's a big structure, measuring about 319.5 feet (97.4 meters) long.
Building Materials and Design
The drydock is built from strong granite stones from Massachusetts. It has a special "stepped" design. This means it has different levels, like giant stairs, which help workers get to all parts of a ship. These steps also help to hold the ship steady while it's being repaired. There are also stairs at the land end to help people move between the different levels.
How Big of a Ship Can It Hold?
This drydock can fit ships up to 291.6 feet (88.9 meters) long. The widest part of the ship, called its beam, can be up to 39.33 feet (12 meters). The dock itself is about 30 feet (9.1 meters) deep. It's quite fast too! The water can be pumped out in just 40 minutes. Filling it back up with water takes about 90 minutes.
The History of Drydock Number One
The building of Drydock Number One was a huge project for its time.
Construction and Cost
Construction started in 1827 and finished in 1834. It cost a lot of money back then: $974,365.65! That was an incredibly high price for a single project in the 1800s.
Who Designed It?
It's believed that Loammi Baldwin, Jr. might have designed it. He was the Navy's main expert for drydocks at that time. A civil engineer named William P. S. Sanger was in charge of making sure the building work was done correctly.
First Ship and Civil War Role
The drydock was first used in June 1833. The ship USS Delaware was brought in for repairs. This was the very first time a large ship was fixed in a drydock in the United States.
During the American Civil War, the shipyard was taken over by the Southern states' navy. This is where the USS Merrimack was famously transformed. It became the armored warship CSS Virginia, which was a very important ship in the war.
Drydock Today
Today, Drydock Number One is still in use. It is mainly used for repairing smaller naval vessels and support ships. It continues to be an active part of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
