<p>The Blanchard Boat Company was one of the leading yacht builders of Seattle. Founded by N.J. (Norman J.) Blanchard (1885-1954) in 1905, the company built nearly 2,000 boats over its 64-year history, including commercial ships, classic motor cruisers and sailing yachts, some of which are still in use today. Following N.J.'s death in 1954, his son Norman C. Blanchard (1911-2009) took over as head of the yard. Partly due to the growing popularity of fiberglass, the Blanchard shop closed in 1969, as did many of the wooden boat shops in the region. 
The motor yacht "Conquista," pictured here, was a U.S. Navy submarine chaser transformed into a pleasure craft by the Blanchard Boat Co. Purchased from the Navy by Brooks Gifford around 1920, the vessel was moved to the dock of the N.J. Blanchard Boat Co. on Lake Union for alterations and improvements. In September 1921, the "Conquista" made her maiden voyage as a yacht, with N.J. Blanchard among the party traveling to San Pedro, California. </p>
<p>Written on verso: 11 ft. World War I subchaser converted by N.J. Blanchard at foot of Wallingford Ave. Lake Union circa 1921


Caption information source: Railway and Marine News, October 1921, p. 11.</p>
<ul><li>Subjects (LCTGM): Blanchard Boat Company (Seattle, Wash.); Boat &amp; ship industry--Washington (State)--Seattle</li></ul>
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