Clipper Ships Built in the United States.

During a few years around the middle of the 19th century some 500 clipper ships were built in the United States. The Ann McKim (1833) and Rainbow (1845) are generally considered to be the first clippers, but it was not until the great gold rush of 1849 that clippers ships were built in great numbers. In 1853 the building of clipper ships culminated with more than a hundred ships built. After that year the declining economics brought soon an end to this era.

Most clipper ships were ship rigged, i.e. fully square rigged on all three masts. A few barques of clipper type have also been included. Clipper schooners have not been included in this list.

State	Builders	Clippers
Connecticut	9	23	4,8 %
Florida	1	1	0,2 %
Maine	61	85	17,9 %
Maryland	14	29	6,1 %
Massachusetts	51	224	47,2 %
New Hampshire	8	28	5,9 %
New Jersey	2	4	0,8 %
New York	22	70	14,7 %
Pennsylvania	1	4	0,8 %
Rhode Island	4	6	1,3 %
Virginia	1	1	0,2 %

References:

Clipper Ships, general references.
Crothers, William L.: The American-Built Clipper Ship 1850-1856. Characteristics, Construction, Details.
International Marine, Camden, ME, 1997. 4to, xxvi, (2), 530 pp, ill.
Cutler, Carl C.: Greyhounds of the Sea. The Story of the American Clipper Ship.
United States Naval Institute, Annapolis, Maryland, 1960.
Howe, Octavius T. & Matthews, Fredric C.: American Clipper Ships 1833-1858. Volume I. Adelaide - Lotus.
Marine Research Society, Salem, 1926.
Howe, Octavius T. & Matthews, Fredric C.: American Clipper Ships 1833-1858. Volume II. Malay - Young Mechanic.
Marine Research Society, Salem, 1927.
MacLean, Duncan: [Articles published in the Boston Daily Atlas 1850 and March 1857]

Updated 1999-07-24 by Lars Bruzelius

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