MAKING

In 1851, the clipper ship Flying Cloud, designed by Donald McKay in East Boston, set a world record by sailing from New York to San Francisco in 89 days—a record that stood for over 130 years.

That ship was part of a broader shipbuilding industry centered along this waterfront. East Boston became one of the most important sites of maritime construction in the United States, producing fast, technically advanced vessels that operated globally.

Shipyards, dry docks, and industrial works once lined this edge of the harbor. They required skilled labor and operated at a scale that defined the local economy.