There was grand excitement along the St. Louis levee 150 years ago when the steamer Rob’t. E. Lee triumphantly arrived on July 4, 1870, hours ahead of the Natchez after… Read More
Old Boat Column
A look back into the rich history of the inland waterways transportation industry. From the earliest steam paddlewheelers to the grand sternwheel and sidewheel packets, and the eventual transition from steam to diesel, you’ll find fascinating stories and photos of a different steamboat every week.
When the steel hull of the steamer Idlewild slid into the Allegheny River at the James Rees yard on October 18, 1914, it is doubtful that anyone present had the… Read More
Long a familiar landmark on the Covington, Ky., waterfront, the well-known restaurant boat Mike Fink has a new lease on life. After nearly five decades of use as a popular… Read More
Among the beautiful big sidewheelers built on the Ohio River at Jeffersonville, Ind., was the palatial packet Katie. Built in 1871, the steamboat was not constructed by the Howard Shipyard,… Read More
There were numerous ship chandleries along the waterways that provided all manner of supplies to riverboats. One of the best known on the Mississippi was the Eagle Boat Store on… Read More
A recent acquisition to the writer’s collection is this vintage postcard of the steamer Falls City, postmarked June 18, 1909. Built in 1898 at Cincinnati for the Louisville & Kentucky… Read More
Built in 1868 by the Barmore yard at Jeffersonville, Ind., the Belle Lee was a palatial packet. The wooden hull was 291 feet in length by 42.4 feet in width… Read More
Built for the United States Mail Line in 1882, the sidewheeler City of Madison was constructed at its namesake city on the Ohio River in southern Indiana. The wooden hull… Read More
As our nation continues to battle the coronavirus, the deployment of several hospital ships to render aid at strategic ports brings to mind the fact that several steamboats were used… Read More
A familiar sight in the St. Louis harbor for nearly seven decades was the steam tug Susie Hazard. Built in 1891 at St. Louis for the Southern Coal, Coke &… Read More
