BIRCH, Thomas (1779-1851), View of Philadelphia Harbor

BIRCH, Thomas (1779-1851) 

The view looks north on the Delaware River from below the United States Navy Yard, which operated until 1996. To the left of the Navy Yard is Sparks Shot Tower, a mu- nitions factory that operated between 1808 and 1913 (fig. 2). The remarkably detailed coastline features the skyline of Philadelphia, featuring the tower and spire of Christ Church in the center. Completed in 1754, it remained the tallest structure in the United States until 1810. The amount of detail in the painting is not limited to the skyline, as each of the boats features its own story.