A New Titan Hits the Tacoma Waterfront
Thousands gathered in the rain to witness the grand launch of the steamship Jefferson, a marvel of local industry.
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On a Saturday evening, thousands of Tacoma residents gathered in the drizzle at the local shipyards to witness the launching of the steamship Jefferson. Miss Francel Hastings of Port Townsend christened the vessel with a bottle of wine. The 225-foot vessel, built by local labor, represents a significant investment in the region's shipping infrastructure, costing upwards of $190,000. Following the successful launch, the ship was towed to the wharf, with plans to move it to Seattle for engine installation.
“She seemed loth to leave the place she had known so long and commit her huge bulk to the mercies of the untried element which was henceforth to be her home.”
The launch of the Jefferson illustrates the scale of Tacoma's early 20th-century shipbuilding boom, an era when the industrial waterfront was the primary economic engine of the city.
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