In 1907, Captain John Anderson joined with the owners of the Bartsch & Tompkins shipyard at Houghton, Washington to found Anderson Shipbuilding Corporation. With the outbreak of World War I in Europe in 1914 and the opening of the Lake Washington Ship Canal in 1917, Anderson modernized the yard and started building larger ships. In 1918, the shipyard built four wooden oceangoing steamers for France.

This photo was taken at the Anderson Shipbuilding Company at Houghton on July 3, 1918. Crowds of people explore the Houghton shipyard during the launching ceremonies for one of the French steamers. A second French vessel was launched the following day.

Original title: Anderson Shipbuilding Co., July 3, 1918, Houghton, Wash.