Battleship Nebraska before launch at Moran Brothers shipyard, Seattle, October 1904 (MOHAI 8557)

In 1901, the Moran Brothers shipyard of Seattle won the bid to build one of three battleships for the US Navy. Construction of the ship, named Nebraska, began with a keel laying ceremony on July 4, 1902. Over 1,000 workers helped build the ship, which was 441 feet long with a beam of 76 feet.
On launch day, most businesses in Seattle closed and school let out early so everyone could get to the waterfront to see the Nebraska hit the water. Over 40,000 people showed up at the launch site, with another 15,000 watching from boats.

This photo shows the Nebraska festooned for its launch from the Moran Brothers shipyard on October 7, 1904.
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)