World War I brought shipbuilding to Alexandria, Virginia, in the form of the Virginia Shipbuilding Corporation. It was a massive site that occupied most of the area between the Jones Point Lighthouse and Ford's Landing. Remnants of the shipbuilding works can still be seen under the shrubbery.
Virginia Shipbuilding Corporation received a contract for the construction of 12 ships, and construction began in 1918. Unfortunately for them, the U.S.'s involvement in the war was short. A cease-fire would be reached later in 1918.
The Virginia Shipbuilding Corporation was plagued by scandal. Its owner, Charles W. Morse, was indicted, and the whole thing was put into receivership.
Before that, however, many ships were built, 2,000 men worked there, dreams were made, and President Wilson visited. Substantially more can be learned by visiting the National Park Service's website.
Here, the Gunston Hall is being toured and christened by First Lady Wilson in a series of four pictures in the OurHistoryMuseum collection.