Edit Object 1234

This mid-afternoon view of a hard working lumber schooner leaving Los Angeles Harbor past Dead Man's Island was painted by Duncan Gleason from a first hand perspective. The dependable Northwesterly wind is powering the vessel out of the channel with a full deck load of lumber under her four working lowers; jib; jumbo; main and fore trimmed on starboard tack. A 'Yankee'; or flying jib is hanked on; but not raised; on the schooner's headstay. In the foreground a lone doryman is shown tending to his boat on shore at Timms Point. 
In the early 1920's the artist maintained a residence and hillside studio in San Pedro which had a commanding view of the harbor to the south including the main ship channel, which lay between Dead Man's Island to the south and the San Pedro / Cabrillo Beach shoreline to the north. Dead Man's Island was removed from the channel in 1928. 
This channel was originally dredged in the 1870's and a jetty was built connecting Terminal Island and Dead Man's Island to form the protected south side of the ship channel. These improvements pre-dated the building of the main breakwater whose construction commenced in 1899.
Originally known as Isla del Muerto, the island was a distinguishing landmark for the anchorage of Los Angeles. The isolation of the site provided protection for burials from coyotes. Over the years it became a cemetery for seamen, the last surviving Indian from San Nicholas Island, American Marines killed in the 1846 battle of Dominguez Rancho, and caballeros from the days of the conquistadors. Their remains were relocated when the island was removed in 1928 to widen and deepen the main shipping channel. The removed material was deposited at the western extension of Terminal Island to form Reservation Point where the quarantine and immigration stations were located.
 Timms Point, shown in the painting's foreground, was the site of early warehouses since it was a principal landing place for goods destined for San Pedro and Los Angeles. The remains of an old jetty are also visible in the painting.

Select a Type
American Ship Portrait
Barometers
Bells
Binnacles & Compasses
Binoculars
Book Maritime
Book Voyages
Books
Books General
Boylhart Collection
Builders Full Models
Builders Half-Model
Canes - Decorative
Canes - Gimmick
Cannons
Carving
Chronometers
Clocks
Contemporary Art
Contemporary Models
Decorative Art - Boxes
Dieppe Models
Diorama Models
Diving Helmets & Equipment
Dockyard Models
Edged Weapons
Engravings
Figureheads
Firearms
Fishing Equipment
Folk Art Models
Furniture
Glass and Pottery
Globes
Jewelry
Joe & Lisa's Art Collection
Lamps
Letters
Lighthouse Artifacts
Limited-Edition Prints
Lithographs
Maps & Charts
Marine Narrative
Marine Narrative at Sea
Medical
Microscopes
Miscellaneous Artifacts
Navigation Instruments - Compass
Navigation Instruments
Navigation Instruments - Sextant
Octants, Quadrants & Backstaffs
Original art
Other Models
Painted Photograph
Passenger Liner Memorabilia
Patent Models
Period Models
Photographs
Pond Models
Pottery
Prints
Prisoner-of-War Artifacts
Prisoner-of-War Models
Sailor Crafts
Sailor Valentines
Sailor Woolworks
Scrimshaw Artifacts
Scrimshaw Private
Scrimshaw Teeth
Sea Chests
Sextants
Ship Clocks
Ship Hardwares
Ship in a Bottle
Ship Log Books
Ships Flogging Whip
Signed Documents
Silver and Silver Plated Models
Speaking Trumpets
Statues
Steam Engine Models
Steam Models
Sundials
Sword
Tankards & Pitchers
Telescopes
Tillers, Rudders & Yokes
Toy Models
Trinity Boxes
Trophys & Presentions
Voyages & Travels
Watches
Whaling