Truckin' on the Western Branch

The original three Jamestown replica ships were built in West Norfolk? In 1956 West Norfolk’s Curtis-Dunn Marine Shipyard built the first full-scale replicas of Susan Constant , Godspeed , and Discovery , the three ships that, in 1607, brought settlers to Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent English colony in America. The ships were built for the 1957 commemoration of Jamestown’s 350th anniversary.

The replica ships had to be authentic in appearance, at least as seaworthy as the original 1607 ships, and stable enough to prevent capsizing even if all of the visitors rushed to one side of the ship.

News reports of the day described the ship christening in West Norfolk as a 17th-century-style ceremony with John Hughes Curtis, president of Curtis-Dunn Marine Industries Inc., in period-correct clothing, presenting each of the three ships’ sponsors with a silver goblet to spill wine “to the four winds” on the forward deck. Trumpeters, pikemen, and sailors manning the three ships were also in 17th century dress, and the ships were fitted with English woven flaxen sails.

The trio of ships remained in the James River until the Susan Constant was rebuilt and the Godspeed and Discovery replaced in the early 1980s. The Susan Constant was also replaced in the early 1990s.

Current replica ships at Jamestown Settlement. Image by Sheally

22