Philly250: West Shipyard Archeological Site

The West Shipyard Archeological Site sits across N. Christopher Columbus Boulevard from the Delaware River between Callowhill and Vine streets. It is named for James West, an English colonist and shipbuilder who had settled in the area in the 1670s and operated the shipyard until his death in 1702. West's lot was typical of modest American shipyards of the colonial and early national periods. It featured small-scale shipbuilding and related activities like ropemaking and coopering (barrel-making). Shops, offices, and living spaces were also built on the West lot, including the Penny Pot House, a notable colonial-era tavern, for which the lot also known as "Penny Pot House Landing."

Evolution Through the Ages

By the mid-1800s, the yard's activities changed along with Philadelphia's economy. Small scale manufacturing along the old waterfront gave way to supporting major industry. After the Civil War, a lumber and coal yard sat on the northern half while assorted small shops, offices, apartments, and a market occupied the southern half. The site's buildings were eventually cleared and used as a railyard for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and later the Reading Railroad Company. As industry moved to other parts of the city and other parts of the world over the 20th century, railroads were removed from the West site and from about the 1970s through the 1990s, the Hertz rental car company used the site as a parking lot.

Preservation and Conservation

The West Shipyard Archeological Site's resources are remarkably well-preserved. Infilling along the riverbank, which eventually pushed the shoreline away from the lot, meant that discarded objects were encased in tightly packed earth. Much of the lot was caught in a fire that swept the waterfront in the 1850s and as the damage was cleared, a protective layer of rubble formed over objects underneath. Finally, the lot's use for warehousing, markets, and storage yards left artifacts under the ground mostly undisturbed.

After the Hertz lot closed, the site was left vacant, and several archaeological excavations at the lot have unearthed evidence of Philadelphia's early history. Shipbuilding tools, personal items such as shoes, and foundations of old buildings are among the site's finds. Remnants of the docks, wharfs, and piers that have occupied the site over the years have been found. Grillage, wood timbers to stabilize infill along the riverbank, have been uncovered as has a near-completely intact wooden slipway, used to move ships in and out of the water. It is one of the few wooden wharf structures perhaps dating to the 1700s known to exist in the United States. Thousands of objects have been removed from the site for preservation and study already.

The former shipyard's rich archeological resources reveal information about Philadelphia's past beyond written evidence. An excavation in 1987 revealed substantial archeological evidence from the 1700s through the mid-1800s, prompting the Philadelphia Historical Commission to list the site on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, the first designation in the city solely for archeological resources. The site was also included in the Old City Historic District in 2003. Designation ensures the site's archeology must be preserved amid any development, either by safeguards put in place by developers or proper excavation and removal. The lot is vacant but has seen interest from developers in recent years.

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Historical Commission is spotlighting buildings or sites which existed in 1776. All are listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. Check back for another featured property and visit our Instagram page (@phlplandevelop) for historic images of this site and others in the series under the hashtag #PRHP1776. Previously, this blog featured the Frankford Preparative Friends Meeting House.