In 1901, the Moran Brothers shipyard of Seattle won the bid to build one of three battleships for the US Navy. The shipyard underwent major renovations to accommodate the construction of such a large vessel, including the building of a 600 foot long ship shed. This photo shows the ceremony for the laying of the keel inside the construction shed for the battleship Nebraska. Over 7000 people showed up to witness the Independence Day ceremony, including a delegation from the state of Nebraska headed by Governor Ezra Savage. Governor Savage and Washington Governor Henry McBride drove the first rivets, which may be the event pictured here, as a group men gather intently around a small section of keel.

Photograph is part of an album titled "'Building a Battleship' Moran Bros. Company Seattle 1903" Caption information source: "Moran shipyard in Seattle launches battleship Nebraska on October 7, 1904" by Alan J. Stein, historylink.org Essay5401

• Subjects (LCTGM): Boat & ship industry--Washington (State)--Seattle; Moran Brothers Company (Seattle, Wash.); Nebraska (Battleship)