BMI Whirley Crane October 12, 2019

Located at one of my favorite museums in town, The Baltimore Museum of Industry, the 1942 built Whirley Crane celebrated its restoration which is described by this SouthBmore.com article.

This Clyde Model 17 DE 90 crane started life at Bethlehem Steel’s Fairfield shipyard along with dozens of siblings. This Mapping Baybrook article has some information. This Mashable article also has some information on the Fairfield shipyard along with a lot of amazing photos, many of them showing Whirley Cranes. Following WWII it was transferred to Bethlehem Steel’s Key Highway shipyard. This 1982 Washington Post article talks about the closing of this yard. After that yard was closed the new owners donated the crane to the Baltimore Museum of Industry.

Above is a short video I took of the crane.

Its current home is next to an 1860s oyster cannery in which the museum lives and has excellent exhibits of the history of Baltimore industry both inside and out. A variety of industries are well represented at this hidden gem of a museum from blacksmithing to textiles. Every visit I make to this museum I notice something new!

Another terrific exhibit of interest to the local maritime industry is the 1906 built steam tugboat Baltimore (not to be confused with the 2016 built Vane Brothers tugboat by the same name!). I have heard that it is also in need of restoration and if so I hope the museum will set their efforts on her next.

This album has more photos I took at the museum this day. You can view my photography (more than just ships!) here and more videos here.