A World War I Shipyard Transforms Jones Point (Historical Marker)

Here follows the inscription written on this trailside historical marker:

A World War I Shipyard Transforms Jones Point
From Shoals to Ships
— 1918-1921 —

During World War I (1914-1918), the U.S. government targeted Jones Point as the site for a private shipyard, one of 111 built to aid the war effort. The Virginia Shipbuilding Corporation yard, constructed just before war's end, was designed to build standardized steel cargo ships. The shipyard included two craneways servicing four shipways—Shipway #1 is before you—a 215' x 450' fabricating shop with upper mold loft, blacksmith shop, boiler shop, an extensive network of rail lines, an 850'-long fitting-out dock, an administration building; and a nearby commissary and restaurant with seating capacity for 2,500.

[Captions:]
1. Delivery of parts from Frabricating Shop to Shipways
2. Erecting the keel and hull
3. Framing the vessel
4. Ship launch to Fitting-out Dock
Look on-site for remnants of the shipway.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

EDITOR'S NOTE: USE COMMON SENSE! So many people will use these GPS coordinates in driving mode, and it takes you to I-95’s Wilson Bridge, where you cannot park, much less stop, and then seems to indicate that you should jump off the bridge and walk to the marker. You will surely break your neck—among many other bones—if you jump off the bridge. Instead, set your destination to “Jones Point Park Parking” in order to obtain driving directions to where you can park and walk to the marker.