New Book Releases

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. 

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.