Portrait of a Port: Boston 1852-1914

About this book

Two hundred and thirty-four striking photographs of the port of Boston combine with interpretive commentary to recapture the flavor buoyancy and excitement of the citys years as one of the two or three great American ports. After the Civil War Boston underwent a radical and successful transformation from a declining mercantile home port to an important and competitive modern seaport. At the same time the transition from sail to steam was taking place. Photographic studies of deep water sail and steam vessels naval ships fishing boats catboats tugs schooners and sloops and of the picturesque wharvesall create a kaleidoscopic visual history of these years of change. The volume offers as well some of the most distinguished early work in photography including the widest selection ever published of photographs by pioneer marine photographer Nathaniel Stebbins.