Berkshire No. 7 🇺🇸

Discover the history of the Berkshire No. 7, a unique wood and steel canal barge constructed in 1935 by Jacobson and Peterson, Inc. for Stewart J. Dailey. Historically significant as one of just two surviving wooden-hulled canal boats, this transitional vessel measures 104 feet long with a 20-foot beam.

Though its design mirrors 19th-century canal boats with its rectangular profile, steel framing, and wood planking, there is no record it ever worked a canal. Instead, between 1941 and 1972, it ferried bulk cargo—including fertilizer—from Connecticut to Long Island Sound. In the spring of 1974, while moored on the west side of the Pequonnock River in Bridgeport Harbor, another barge took on water and dragged the Berkshire No. 7 down along with the Elmer S.

Dailey and Priscilla Dailey. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, it is part of the only set of shipwrecks in Connecticut on the register. Because no part of the vessel remains visible above water and its deteriorated state means salvage efforts could break it apart, your visit centers on reflecting upon a submerged piece of maritime heritage resting right in Bridgeport Harbor.

What to see at Berkshire No. 7

• One of only two surviving wooden-hulled canal boats in existence
• Submerged 1935 transitional barge featuring steel framing and wood planking
• Part of the only shipwrecks in Connecticut listed on the National Register of Historic Places
• Ferrying historic bulk cargo like fertilizer to Long Island Sound from 1941 to 1972

Visiting tips

Keep in mind that no portion of the Berkshire No. 7 is visible above water, so plan to view the Bridgeport Harbor area where it lies submerged.

How long: Under 1 hour · Best time: Daytime

How to get there & what’s nearby

Berkshire No. 7 is easy to reach on Bridgeport’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo and Barnum Museum. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Bridgeport travel guide.