Red Hook once had two graving docks and many floating dry docks. This wonderfully illustrated article from the January 13, 1883 edition of Scientific American explains how graving docks at what became Todd Shipyard work. The shipyard site is now owned by IKEA, where you see the outline of the former graving dock in cobblestones in the parking lot. The dry dock's caisson (the door that you close to keep the water out) is still floating at the end of the dock area.

 
This is the start of a feature article. To see the full essay click here:
The Great Dry Docks at Erie Basin