Wilmington Historical Society Digital Library

Wilmington Port History

Title

Description

The port history of Wilmington covers various subjects and is a part of the Wilmington Subject Files Box 3 - Port and World War History. These photos show naval ships from the 1800's, to the history of the tuna canning center, to the construction of the steam plant of Wilmington and the "Heart of the Harbor" welcome sign. The port history is incredibly important to Wilmington and the community.

Creator

Wilmington Historical Society

Date

1800-2010

Contributor

Wilmington Historical Society

Rights

The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law beyond fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Identifier

WSF_03

Collection Items

The Banana Docks

Between 1927 and 1936 in the Port of Los Angeles, the United Fruit Company operated a banana-unloading operation that was extremely labor intensive, leading to delays of getting the bananas to market and limited the perishable fruit. In 1935, they created a state-of-the-art, modern fruit terminal at Berth 147 that allowed bananas to be loaded directly onto refrigerated trains from the ships using conveyor belt systems. This new system allowed the port to turn an exotic novelty food into an everyday snack.

Tags Banana_dock_photography, Wilmington_history, Wilmington_port_photography, Wilmington_transportation_photography
Fishing Industry in Wilmington

A photo of fisherman catching tuna off the coast. The appetizing and attractive qualities of California Tuna made it very popular; which led to the growth of the Fish Harbor Cannery Section on Terminal Island

Tags Wilmington_history, Wilmington_history_photography, Wilmington_port_photography
Fishing Industry - Tuna Trouble

A publication regarding the info of Tuna Tariff Troubles - in the 1940's and 50's about 90 percent of the tuna canned in the United States was packed in Southern California, which suffered when there were sharp drops in the price of wholesale canned tuna (due to imports of tuna from low-cost foreign producing counties). In 1948, imports were about 7 percent of US sales; in 1951 they were above 34 percent of sales. The United States industry was unable to compete at the price levels.

Tags Wilmington_history, Wilmington_history_photography, Wilmington_port_photography
Fishing Industry

California Sardines - A publication with information and pictures about the story of the California Sardine and the industry which catched, cans, and markets it

Tags Wilmington_history, Wilmington_history_photography, Wilmington_port_photography
Fishing Industry

A photo of Berth 176 between San Pedro and Wilmington; where most of the Sardine Pack of the San Pedro District is put aboard Ocean Steamers intended for foreign markets

Tags Wilmington_history, Wilmington_history_photography, Wilmington_port_photography
Fishing Industry

A photo of fisherman pulling in nets full of unidentified fish off a vessel off the coast of California

Tags Wilmington_history, Wilmington_history_photography, Wilmington_port_photography
Fishing Industry

A photo of Peter Borcich of San Pedro posing on top of a 7 ton, 32 foot long shark he caught off the coast of California.

Tags Wilmington_history, Wilmington_history_photography, Wilmington_port_photography
Harbor Steam Plant

Constructed where Banning's Warehouse originally stood as the oldest building in Wilmington, the steam plant was constructed in two parts; Unit 1 in 1935 and Unit 2 completed in 1947. The June 1943, the steam turbine generator went into service, just in time to avert a shortage of electrical power that would have seriously affected the war production in Los Angeles. This photo was taken of and around the Steam Plant in Wilmington by Fred Brown, undated

Tags Wilmington_history, Wilmington_history_photography, Wilmington_port_photography
Harbor Steam Plant

Constructed where Banning's Warehouse originally stood as the oldest building in Wilmington, the steam plant was constructed in two parts; Unit 1 in 1935 and Unit 2 completed in 1947. The June 1943, the steam turbine generator went into service, just in time to avert a shortage of electrical power that would have seriously affected the war production in Los Angeles. This photo was taken of and around the Steam Plant in Wilmington by Fred Brown, undated

Tags Wilmington_history, Wilmington_history_photography, Wilmington_port_photography
Harbor Steam Plant

Constructed where Banning's Warehouse originally stood as the oldest building in Wilmington, the steam plant was constructed in two parts; Unit 1 in 1935 and Unit 2 completed in 1947. The June 1943, the steam turbine generator went into service, just in time to avert a shortage of electrical power that would have seriously affected the war production in Los Angeles. This photo was taken of and around the Steam Plant in Wilmington by Fred Brown, undated

Tags Wilmington_history, Wilmington_history_photography, Wilmington_port_photography
Heart of the Harbor Sign

A photo of the Original "Welcome to Wilmington: Heart of the Harbor" sign. This photo includes Howard Crandall although the other people are not identified. It was taken at PCH and Eastern Boundry looking West. Undated

Tags Wilmington_history, Wilmington_history_photography, Wilmington_port_photography
Navy Ships

Photo of the U.S. Monitor Puritan on RPPC: A real photo postcard (RPPC) is a type of postcard that was made by transferring a real photograph onto postcard paper.

Tags Naval_ship_photography, Real_photo_postcard_photography, Wilmington_history, Wilmington_port_photography
Navy Ships

Photo of the U.S. Battleship Ohio on RPPC: A real photo postcard (RPPC) is a type of postcard that was made by transferring a real photograph onto postcard paper.

Tags Naval_ship_photography, Real_photo_postcard_photography, Wilmington_history, Wilmington_port_photography
Navy Ships

Photo of the U.S. Cruiser New York on RPPC: A real photo postcard (RPPC) is a type of postcard that was made by transferring a real photograph onto postcard paper.

Tags Naval_ship_photography, Real_photo_postcard_photography, Wilmington_history, Wilmington_port_photography
Navy Ships

Photo of the U.S. Cruiser Olympia on RPPC: A real photo postcard (RPPC) is a type of postcard that was made by transferring a real photograph onto postcard paper.

Tags Naval_ship_photography, Real_photo_postcard_photography, Wilmington_history, Wilmington_port_photography
Navy Ships

Photo of the U.S. Cruiser Philadelphia on RPPC: A real photo postcard (RPPC) is a type of postcard that was made by transferring a real photograph onto postcard paper.

Tags Naval_ship_photography, Real_photo_postcard_photography, Wilmington_history, Wilmington_port_photography
Navy Ships

Photo of the U.S. Monitor Monadnock on RPPC: A real photo postcard (RPPC) is a type of postcard that was made by transferring a real photograph onto postcard paper.

Tags Naval_ship_photography, Real_photo_postcard_photography, Wilmington_history, Wilmington_port_photography
Navy Ships

Photo of the U.S. Cruiser Chicago on RPPC: A real photo postcard (RPPC) is a type of postcard that was made by transferring a real photograph onto postcard paper.

Tags Naval_ship_photography, Real_photo_postcard_photography, Wilmington_history, Wilmington_port_photography
Navy Ships

Photo of the U.S. Cruiser Columbia on RPPC: A real photo postcard (RPPC) is a type of postcard that was made by transferring a real photograph onto postcard paper.

Tags Naval_ship_photography, Real_photo_postcard_photography, Wilmington_history, Wilmington_port_photography
Navy Ships

Photo of the U.S. Cruiser Baltimore on RPPC: A real photo postcard (RPPC) is a type of postcard that was made by transferring a real photograph onto postcard paper.

Tags Naval_ship_photography, Real_photo_postcard_photography, Wilmington_history, Wilmington_port_photography
Navy Ships

Photo of the U.S.Cruiser Marblehead on RPPC: A real photo postcard (RPPC) is a type of postcard that was made by transferring a real photograph onto postcard paper.

Tags Naval_ship_photography, Real_photo_postcard_photography, Wilmington_history, Wilmington_port_photography
Navy Ships

Photo of the U.S. Battleship Texas on RPPC: A real photo postcard (RPPC) is a type of postcard that was made by transferring a real photograph onto postcard paper.

Tags Naval_ship_photography, Real_photo_postcard_photography, Wilmington_history, Wilmington_port_photography
Navy Ships

Photo of the U.S. Cruiser Atlanta on RPPC: A real photo postcard (RPPC) is a type of postcard that was made by transferring a real photograph onto postcard paper.

Tags Naval_ship_photography, Real_photo_postcard_photography, Wilmington_history, Wilmington_port_photography
Navy Ships

Photo of the U.S. Cruiser Brooklyn on RPPC: A real photo postcard (RPPC) is a type of postcard that was made by transferring a real photograph onto postcard paper.

Tags Naval_ship_photography, Real_photo_postcard_photography, Wilmington_history, Wilmington_port_photography
Navy Ships

Photo of the U.S. Battleship Oregon on RPPC: A real photo postcard (RPPC) is a type of postcard that was made by transferring a real photograph onto postcard paper.

Tags Naval_ship_photography, Real_photo_postcard_photography, Wilmington_history, Wilmington_port_photography
Navy Ships

Photo of the U.S. Battleship Illinois on RPPC: A real photo postcard (RPPC) is a type of postcard that was made by transferring a real photograph onto postcard paper.

Tags Naval_ship_photography, Real_photo_postcard_photography, Wilmington_history, Wilmington_port_photography
Navy Ships

Photo of the U.S. Battleship Massachusetts on RPPC: A real photo postcard (RPPC) is a type of postcard that was made by transferring a real photograph onto postcard paper.

Tags Naval_ship_photography, Real_photo_postcard_photography, Wilmington_history, Wilmington_port_photography
Navy Ships

Photo of the U.S. Battleship Indiana on RPPC: A real photo postcard (RPPC) is a type of postcard that was made by transferring a real photograph onto postcard paper.

Tags Naval_ship_photography, Real_photo_postcard_photography, Wilmington_history, Wilmington_port_photography
Navy Ships

Photo of the U.S. Cruiser San Francisco on RPPC: A real photo postcard (RPPC) is a type of postcard that was made by transferring a real photograph onto postcard paper.

Tags Naval_ship_photography, Real_photo_postcard_photography, Wilmington_history, Wilmington_port_photography
Oil Fields

A photo of people posing in front of the Oil Fields in Wilmington with a large sign pointing out the different directions of the cities in the background

Tags Oil_well_photography, Wilmington_CA_photography, Wilmington_history
Oil Fields

Two people work in an Oil Field. The photo has been altered, and the name on the back of the photo says "Isabel Arguleta"

Tags Oil_well_photography, Wilmington_CA_photography, Wilmington_history
Oil Fields

A blurry landscape photo of the oil fields in Wilmington

Tags Oil_well_photography, Wilmington_CA_photography, Wilmington_history
Spruce Goose Pamphlet

A pamphlet of information on the "Spruce Goose" - Howard Hughes' Flying Boat was named the Hercules H-4, but nicknamed the "Spruce Goose" during the congressional investigation of 1947.

Tags Museum_photography, Wilmington_CA_photography, Wilmington_history
Spruce Goose Photo

A photo of Howard Hughes' Flying Boat, nicknamed the "Spruce Goose" in 1947. The Spruce Goose was the largest wooden airplane ever built, with a wingspan of 320 feet and a length of 218 feet. It was six times larger than other aircraft of its time, designed by Howard Hughes for military transport during World War II. It was made of wood laminated with plastic and covered with fabric. It only flew once, on November 2, 1947, in Long Beach Harbor, California. It flew for about a mile at an altitude of 70 feet. Hughes said the plane needed more development and never flew it again.

Tags Museum_photography, Wilmington_CA_photography, Wilmington_history
Sailors Union of the Pacific

The Brotherhood of the Sea sign as part of the S.U.P in Wilmington, CA in 1952

Tags Labor_union_photography, Wilmington_CA_photography, Wilmington_history
Ships in Wilmington Harbor

Photo of Unidentified Ship in the Wilmington and L.A. Harbors

Tags Harbor_photography, Ship_and_boat_photography, Wilmington_CA_photography, Wilmington_history
Ships in Wilmington Harbor

A photo of the explosion of a large ship in the L.A. Harbor in the 1970s

Tags Harbor_photography, Ship_and_boat_photography, Wilmington_CA_photography, Wilmington_history
Ships in Wilmington Harbor

A photo of the aftermath of the largest fire in L.A. Harbor History in 1947

Tags Harbor_photography, Ship_and_boat_photography, Wilmington_CA_photography, Wilmington_history
Ships in Wilmington Harbor

A unidentified ship in the harbor at a dock. If you have information on this ship and time period, please contact the Wilmington Historical Society

Tags Harbor_photography, Ship_and_boat_photography, Wilmington_CA_photography, Wilmington_history
Ships in Wilmington Harbor

An unidentified row of ships in the harbor

Tags Harbor_photography, Ship_and_boat_photography, Wilmington_CA_photography, Wilmington_history
Ships in Wilmington Harbor

An unidentified ship in the harbor, with "City of Los Angeles" on the side. If you have more information about this ship, please contact the Wilmington Historical Society

Tags Harbor_photography, Ship_and_boat_photography, Wilmington_CA_photography, Wilmington_history
Ships in Wilmington Harbor

An unidentified ship in the harbor. If you have more information about this ship, please contact the Wilmington Historical Society

Tags Harbor_photography, Ship_and_boat_photography, Wilmington_CA_photography, Wilmington_history
Ships in Wilmington Harbor

An unidentified ship in the harbor. If you have more information about this ship, please contact the Wilmington Historical Society

Tags Harbor_photography, Ship_and_boat_photography, Wilmington_CA_photography, Wilmington_history
Ships in Wilmington Harbor

An unidentified ship in the harbor. If you have more information about this ship, please contact the Wilmington Historical Society

Tags Harbor_photography, Ship_and_boat_photography, Wilmington_CA_photography, Wilmington_history
Steamship Historical Society of America

The cover page of the Steamship Historical Society magazine, that has lots of information about the history and modern ages of steam ships in the SoCal Chapter. This is the Winter 1975 volume, we also have the Fall 1999 volume

Tags Harbor_photography, Ship_and_boat_photography, Wilmington_CA_photography, Wilmington_history
Steamship Historical Society of America

Art on the back cover of the Fall 1999 volume of the Steamboat Bill magazine by Ken Marschall in 1999

Tags Harbor_photography, Ship_and_boat_photography, Wilmington_CA_photography, Wilmington_history
Timm's Landing Dedication

A photo of the dedication of the monument at Timms' Landing on May 29, 1993. The monument tells the story of German Immigrant Augustus Timms, who landed on the mudflats and built a warehouse, corral and other shipping facilities.

Tags Harbor_photography, Wilmington_CA_photography, Wilmington_history
Terminal Island Aerial Image

An aerial image of Terminal Island in the L.A. Harbor, undated

Tags Harbor_photography, Wilmington_history, Wilmington_port_photography
Terminal Island Ferry Building

The Ferry Building on Terminal Island in 1950

Tags Harbor_photography, Wilmington_history, Wilmington_port_photography
Reeves Field Photo

A photo of Reeves Field in 1947

Tags Harbor_photography, Wilmington_history, Wilmington_port_photography

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Wilmington Port History

Wilmington Port History

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