BOATS, SHIPS, & FERRIES

See also St. Johns River 

See also the various time periods on the webpage Jax History by Time Period.  The web pages for these time periods may give info about maritime activities.  For example, World War I shipbuilding can be found in the heading Jax after the Fire (1901-1919)

PLACES & GROUPS FOR RESEARCH

SHIPPING & PORT HISTORY -- Includes JaxPort, jetties, etc.

SHIPBUILDERS

SPECIFIC SHIPS, BOATS, & CAPTAINS

FERRIES

PLACES & GROUPS FOR RESEARCH

• JACKSONVILLE MARITIME MUSEUM SOCIETY -- The website for an invaluable Jacksonville institution.  The group is dedicated to the preservation & public presentation of the area's maritime heritage.

• JACKSONVILLE MARITIME MUSEUM SOCIETY -- Florida Times-Union article entitled "ONE OF US: At home on river's shore: Mariner now stands watch on dry land," by Bill Wesselhoff.  Tells about John Lockhart, a volunteer at the Jacksonville Maritime Museum.

• MARITIME MUSEUMS IN FLORIDA -- Links & contact info for maritime museums in Florida & throughout the nation.  Info provided by "Smith's Master List of Maritime Museum Websites."

• VARIOUS MARITIME WEBSITES -- An excellent list of links to maritime websites.  Their topics range from Chinese sailing junks & Spanish galleons to ironclads & U-boats.  List provided by Florida State University.

SHIPPING & PORT HISTORY

• JACKSONVILLE, RIVERPORT-SEAPORT -- Jacksonville, Riverport-Seaport, by George E. Buker, either is or will be available online in its entirety.  It is being provided by the Florida Heritage Collection.

• JAX MARITIME HISTORY -- Info about Jacksonville's maritime history  can be found in the book History of Jacksonville Florida and Vicinity 1513 to 1924 (by T. Frederick Davis, 1925).  Go to pages 358-371.  The entire book is online at the website for the Florida Heritage Collection.  STEP #1 -- When you get to the website, use a keyword search for the following words: "Jacksonville" "vicinity". This will retrieve the book.  STEP #2 -- Click on the link "Electronic resource (JPEG)."  This will retrieve the screen that allows you to choose a page number. STEP #3 -- Go to the bottom of the screen & select a page number.  This will open the book at that page.

• HISTORY OF JAXPORT -- History of JaxPort, from the homepage for JaxPort.

• HISTORY OF JAXPORT   -- Info about Jacksonville's docks, terminals, and JaxPort can be found at the section "Going, Going, Gone: Ugly Downtown Docks."  Provided by JacksonvilleStory.com

• PORT IMPROVEMENTS -- Info about the history of port improvements at Jacksonville (including the jetties)   can be found in the book History of Jacksonville Florida and Vicinity 1513 to 1924 (by T. Frederick Davis, 1925).  Go to pages 383-392.  The entire book is online at the website for the Florida Heritage Collection.  STEP #1 -- When you get to the website, use a keyword search for the following words: "Jacksonville" "vicinity". This will retrieve the book.  STEP #2 -- Click on the link "Electronic resource (JPEG)."  This will retrieve the screen that allows you to choose a page number. STEP #3 -- Go to the bottom of the screen & select a page number.  This will open the book at that page.

• DOCKS & TERMINALS   -- Info about Jacksonville's docks, terminals, and JaxPort can be found at the section "Going, Going, Gone: Ugly Downtown Docks."  Provided by JacksonvilleStory.com

• DOCKS & TERMINALS -- Info about Jacksonville's municipal docks & terminals  can be found in the book History of Jacksonville Florida and Vicinity 1513 to 1924 (by T. Frederick Davis, 1925).  Go to pages 335-337.  The entire book is online at the website for the Florida Heritage Collection.  STEP #1 -- When you get to the website, use a keyword search for the following words: "Jacksonville" "vicinity". This will retrieve the book.  STEP #2 -- Click on the link "Electronic resource (JPEG)."  This will retrieve the screen that allows you to choose a page number. STEP #3 -- Go to the bottom of the screen & select a page number.  This will open the book at that page.

• DOCKS -- PICTURE -- Info about a 1912 photo taken on Jacksonville's docks. Shows African American workers at dinner.  Provided by JacksonvilleStory.com.

• STEAMBOATING IN FLORIDA -- Article entitled "Steamboating," from Antiques & Art Around Florida.  Covers the late 1800s & early 1900s.

• STEAMBOATING IN FLORIDA -- Steamboating during the late 1800s.  Also given are links for info about the St. Johns River.  Web site sponsored by the Orange County (Florida) Government.

• STEAMBOATING ON THE ST. JOHNS RIVER -- Steamboating on the St. Johns (by Edward A. Mueller) either is or will be available online in its entirety.  It is being provided by the Florida Heritage Collection.

• STEAMBOATING ON THE ST. JOHNS RIVER -- Florida Times-Union article entitled "Festival's a Nostalgic Trip to Steamboat Era," by Beth Reese Cravey.  Covers the 1800s & early 1900s.

• ST. JOHNS RIVER STEAMBOATS -- "St. Johns River Steamboats"  (A history by Edward A. Mueller) -- NOTE:  The entire text of this source is available online.  It's provided in the wonderful website called the "Florida Heritage Collection," maintained by the State University System of Florida.   When you get to the website, you can search by keywords.  Just type in "Jacksonville," or "Duval County," or other keywords, such as words from a title.  ALSO NOTE: Most of the individual Jacksonville items in the Florida Heritage Collection are listed in JacksonvilleStory.com, the site you're now in. 

• VARIOUS ST. JOHNS BOATS -- Info about "the fate of some of the St. Johns River boats" from Jacksonville  can be found in the book History of Jacksonville Florida and Vicinity 1513 to 1924 (by T. Frederick Davis, 1925).  Go to pages 369-371.  The entire book is online at the website for the Florida Heritage Collection.  STEP #1 -- When you get to the website, use a keyword search for the following words: "Jacksonville" "vicinity". This will retrieve the book.  STEP #2 -- Click on the link "Electronic resource (JPEG)."  This will retrieve the screen that allows you to choose a page number. STEP #3 -- Go to the bottom of the screen & select a page number.  This will open the book at that page.

• JACKSONVILLE PORT PICTURES THROUGH THE YEARS -- Furnished by the State of Florida.

• JACKSONVILLE PORT AUTHORITY -- HISTORY -- Furnished by JPA.

• PORT IMPROVEMENT DURING THE EARLY 1900s -- Florida Times-Union article entitled "Millennium Moment: Dec. 10, 1912," by Bill Foley.  Tell how Jacksonville civic leaders attempted to improve the Jacksonville's port during the early 1900s.  Their efforts laid the foundation for today's Jacksonville Port Authority.  

• TRANSPORTATION STUDY 1960 -- Jacksonville - Duval County Transportation Study (1960) either is or will be available online in its entirety.  It is being provided by the Florida Heritage Collection.

• BAR PILOTS -- Florida Times-Union article entitled "Bar pilots keep watch over St. Johns River: They safely guide vessels into area ports," by Christopher Calnan.
   
• FLORIDA HERITAGE COLLECTION -- Info about the subjects on this webpage may be available at the the marvelous "Florida Heritage Collection." This website gives full-text, online copies of hundreds of Florida books.  NOTE: When you get to the website, you can search in different ways.  These searches include by "Florida Themes" or by "Florida History Timeline."  You can also search by "Florida County" and by "Keywords."  With keyword searching, just type in "Jacksonville," "Duval County," or other keywords, such as words from a title.  ALSO NOTE:  Many of the individual Jacksonville items in the Florida Heritage Collection are listed in JacksonvilleStory.com, the site you're now in. However, Jacksonville info can often be found in books about Florida in general. Many of theses books are at the Florida Heritage Collection website.

SHIPBUILDERS

• ATLANTIC MARINE -- A history of this Jacksonville shipbuilding company.  From the company's homepage.

• JACKSONVILLE SHIPYARDS -- Florida Times-Union article entitled "Shipyards Project All in the Family," by Mark Gordan.  Tells about the future plans for the old Jacksonville Shipyards near Alltel Stadium in downtown Jacksonville.  

SPECIFIC SHIPS, BOATS, & CAPTAINS

• JACOB BROCK, STEAMBOAT PIONEER -- Florida Times-Union article entitled "Steamboat Man Mastered St. Johns," by Mary Jo McTammany.  Tells about Captain Jacob Brock, a steamboat pioneer on the St. Johns River.  BACKGROUND INFO: Brock operated his business in the time before & after the Civil War.  His base of operations was in Clay County. The area of Clay County was part of Duval County until 1850.  

• CITY OF JACKSONVILLE -- Florida Times-Union article entitled, "Derelict Steamboat More than a Wreck," by Bill Foley. Tells about the fate of the steamboat The City of Jacksonville.

• CITY OF NASSAU (SHIP) -- Article entitled "The Loss of the City of Nassau," by maritime author Edward A. Mueller.  The article was placed online by the Jacksonville Maritime Museum Society.  BACKGROUND INFO: The City of Nassau was a ship that was supposed to have steamed between Jacksonville and Nassau in the Bahama Islands during the latter 1800s.  However, the ship appears to have been lost in a severe gale before it could be put into service. 

• COMMODORE (SHIP) & STEPHEN CRANE -- See SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR

• ERNEST HINDS -- Hospital ship used to treat venereal disease patients in Jacksonville in 1946-1947.  Info and pics provided by JacksonvilleStory.com.

• FLORIDA (STEAMBOAT) -- Article entitled "The 'Different' Steamboat Florida," by maritime author Edward A. Mueller.   Placed online by the Jacksonville Maritime Museum Society.  BACKGROUND INFO: The Florida was a ship that ran from Savannah to the St. Johns River & vicinity during the latter 1800s.  Unusual for the time, it traveled most of the way on what is now the Intracoastal Waterway.

• HINDS -- See Ernest Hinds 

• JOHN BANVARD (SHIP) -- Article entitled "The Liberty Ship John Banvard," by respected maritime author Edward A. Mueller.   Placed online by the Jacksonville Maritime Museum Society.  BACKGROUND INFO: The John Banvard was towed to Jacksonville after World War II.  In 1947, it sunk in the St. Johns River off of what is now Metropolitan Park. 

• MAY GARNER (STEAMBOAT) -- Florida Times-Union article entitled "Here's to Little May Garner, Who Began Our [Clay County's] Steamboat Industry," by Mary Jo McTammany.  Provides info about the May Garner.  BACKGROUND INFO:  This well-known steamboat cruised the St. Johns River between Mayport, Jacksonville, & Green Cove Springs during the late 1800s & early 1900s.  

• MAY GARNER (STEAMBOAT) -- Florida Times-Union article called "Last of Steamboat Captains Taught Love for St. Johns River by Father," by Mary Jo McTammany.  Among other topics, it provides info about Captain Charles Garner and his steamboat, the May Garner.  

• MOHAWK (STEAMSHIP) -- Florida Times-Union article entitled "Millennium Moment: February 12, 1926," by Bill Foley.  Briefly tells about the Mohawk, a steamship in the Clyde Line, that served Jacksonville.  

• SOUTH JACKSONVILLE (FERRY) -- Article entitled "A Worthy Survivor - The South Jacksonville of 1913," by maritime author Edward A. Mueller.  The article was placed online by the Jacksonville Maritime Museum Society. Tells about the South Jacksonville, a ferry that ran from downtown Jacksonville to South Jacksonville. BACKGROUND INFO:  The South Jacksonville operated prior to the opening of the first automobile bridge across the St. Johns River in Jacksonville in 1921.  Amazingly, the vessel is still in operation between Vermont and New York ports.

• WELAKA (STEAMSHIP) -- Interesting article entitled "Welaka and the Yellow Fever Quarantine," by well-known maritime author Edward A. Mueller.  The article was placed online by the Jacksonville Maritime Museum Society.  BACKGROUND INFO: The Welaka was a Savannah-based steamship that sailed to Jacksonville during the 1850s.  While an epidemic raged in Savannah, Welaka's captain tried to defy Jacksonville town officials in regard to local quarantine laws.  Consequently, the town officials had the ship fired upon as it went up the St. Johns River.  This action, however, resulted in little or no damage. 

FERRIES

• FERRY SERVICE IN JAX -- Info about transportation by ferry in Jacksonville   can be found in the book History of Jacksonville Florida and Vicinity 1513 to 1924 (by T. Frederick Davis, 1925).  Go to pages 366, 375-377.  The entire book is online at the website for the Florida Heritage Collection.  STEP #1 -- When you get to the website, use a keyword search for the following words: "Jacksonville" "vicinity". This will retrieve the book.  STEP #2 -- Click on the link "Electronic resource (JPEG)."  This will retrieve the screen that allows you to choose a page number. STEP #3 -- Go to the bottom of the screen & select a page number.  This will open the book at that page.

• THE FATE OF THE FERRY BOATS -- Pictures & info about the demise of ferryboat service in downtown Jacksonville.

• DOWNTOWN FERRY SERVICE ENDS IN 1938 -- Florida Times-Union article entitled "A Fitting Night for Death of Downtown Ferries," by Bill Foley.  Tells about the closing of ferry service across the St. Johns River in Jacksonville in  1938.  Info is also given about Jacksonville businessman George W. Gibbs, a shipbuilder & ferry company operator. 

• MAYPORT FERRY (ST. JOHNS RIVER FERRY) -- History of the Mayport Ferry, from the ferry's website.

• MAYPORT FERRY -- Tampa Tribune article entitled "History Survives on Island," by Dorothy Smiljanich.  Tells about Kingsley Plantation & about the Mayport Ferry.  BACKGROUND INFO: With the opening of the Dames Point Bridge in 1989, the number of ferry users dropped sharply.

• MAYPORT FERRY -- Florida Times-Union article from January, 1998, entitled "New Era for Mayport Ferry: Company Regards Travelers as 'Guests'," by Jaimie Wilson.

• MAYPORT FERRY -- Florida Times-Union article entitled "Mayport Ferry: On a New Tack."

• MAYPORT FERRY -- Professional Mariner Online article that gives the recent history of the St. Johns River Ferry (the Mayport Ferry).

• MAYPORT FERRY -- Florida Times-Union article entitled "ONE OF US: Ferryman shares happiness with passengers," by Rachel Davis.  Tells about B.J. Hart, who directs passengers onto the St. Johns River Ferry.

• MAYPORT FERRY -- Florida Times-Union article entitled "Ferry closer to staying afloat without city buoy," by David Bauerlein.  Tells about the St. Johns River Ferry.