Detroit Shipbuilding

Detroit Shipbuilding began as Campbell, Wolverton & Co., later becoming Campbell & Owen. It was acquired by Stephen Kirby in 1871 and incorporated as Detroit Dry Dock in 1874. Nearby Wyandotte Shipbuilding was started by Frank Kirby in 1872 and combined with Detroit Dry Dock in 1878. Henry Ford was an apprentice machinist at Detroit Dry Dock from 1879 to 1882. The Kirbys sold the company to The American Ship Building Company in 1899, and it was renamed Detroit Shipbuilding, becoming AmShip Detroit in 1913, when AmShip eliminated individual yard identities. The yard became a repair facility and finally closed down in 1929.