Steamboats 2

 


THE  LOUISVILLE  &  CINCINNATI  PACKET  CO.

  The Steamer America seen below started out as the Indiana. Built in 1900 by the Howard Ship Yard in Jeffersonville, Indiana for the Louisville & Cincinnati Packet Co. She drew only 30" and replaced the City of Louisville (below) in times of low water. This boat never ventured below Louisville. She caught fire on May 1, 1916 at the Cincinnati Landing and was partially burned (see 2nd image, not a postcard). After being rebuilt at the Howard Yard she was renamed the America. Laid up above Jeffersonville, Indiana, for the winter of 1930, she burned once again. Arson was suspected.
   The Betsy Ann was built in 1899 in Dubuque, Iowa. She is best remembered for her races against the Chris Greene (1928), and the Tom Greene (1929 & 1930). This led to the rebirth of the steamboat racing tradition. She was dismantled in St. Louis in 1940.

Sreamer America.jpg (63087 bytes)    Indiana after fire.jpg (394271 bytes)                    Betsy Ann.jpg (78823 bytes)        Betsy Ann-back.jpg (72693 bytes)
  The Steamer America               Indiana after fire.                                The Steamer Betsy Ann           Back of card on the left
at foot of Main St.                                                                        

 

   The City of Cincinnati was part of the Louisville & Cincinnati Packet Co. fleet. The Packet Co. boats can always be easily spotted because they are always seen with two white stripes on their smoke stacks until after the destruction of the fleet in the 1917-1918 ice jam when the company was bought by new owners and the white collar symbol on the stacks were abandoned. This packet boat was built in 1899 at the Howard Ship Yard in Jeffersonville, Indiana. She was built expressly for the Louisville-Cincinnati trade, working in tandem with her sister ship, the  City of Louisville (built in 1894) seen below. Both boats were built for freight and overnight passenger service with 72 staterooms, and an excursion capacity permit for 1,500 passengers. Both boats were destroyed in the 1918 Ice Gorge disaster (see Disaster Section.) The 3rd card is not only misidentified it is misspelled.

City of Cincinnati 2.jpg (67858 bytes)    City of Cincinnati 3.jpg (57628 bytes)    Steamer at Warf.jpg (248971 bytes)    City of Cincinnati-w.jpg (100274 bytes)    City of Cincinnati steamer.jpg (149007 bytes)
The City of Cincinnati

 

Steamer Cincinnati-rp.jpg (73277 bytes)        City of Cincinnati Mail Boat.jpg (116304 bytes)        City Of Cincinnati-n4.jpg (215134 bytes)        City Of Cincinnati at Louisville.jpg (98312 bytes)
                                                                The City of Cincinnati                                                   At  Louisville

 

                                                                                                                                                                             Not a postcard
City of Louisville-2.jpg (105984 bytes)        City of Louisville Packet.jpg (87860 bytes)        City Of Louisville-3.jpg (210373 bytes)                    City of Louisville Pantry-1897.jpg (574513 bytes)
                                                                                    City of Louisville                                                               The City of Louisville 
                                                                                                                                                                                  pantry-1897

 

Palatial Steamer Cincinnati.jpg (190194 bytes)        Cincinnati 2.jpg (83123 bytes)        Cincinnati 1.jpg (56151 bytes)
Cincinnati   

   The all steel steamer Cincinnati was built in 1924 for the Cincinnati & Louisville Packet Co. It was considered the most modern craft on an American river. It was radio equipped, had an orchestra, social hostesses, there were 40 waiters and 12 men in the kitchen, etc. It was nearly 300 feet long and 85 feet wide. It had hot and cold running water in every extra large stateroom. The original plan had been to build two of these boats but because the cost of building the Cincinnati was so over budget at $417,000 the hull of the 2nd would-be Louisville was sold to the Coney Island Company and became the 2nd Island Queen. Below is a series of photographs that are from the souvenir book that was put out for the dedication of this steamer.

Steamer Cincinnati1.jpg (171635 bytes)                Steamer Cincinnati2.jpg (180269 bytes)                Steamer Cincinnati3.jpg (219296 bytes)
Passengers on maiden voyage             Main Cabin & Mezzanine                            Lounging Room             

 

 

Steamer Cincinnati4.jpg (205511 bytes)                Steamer Cincinnati5.jpg (139206 bytes)            Steamer Cincinnati6.jpg (267219 bytes)
Parlor Stateroom                                      Dining Saloon                                            Kitchen            

 

ADVERTISEMENTS  FROM  SOUVENIR  BOOK

Bedding.jpg (309321 bytes)          China-Railings-Steel Work.jpg (261927 bytes)          Cincinnati-Kitchen Equiptment.jpg (252601 bytes)    Postal-John Van Range.jpg (264059 bytes)          Cincinnati-Plumbing.jpg (244544 bytes)
Bedding            China-Railings-Steel Work                Kitchens      Postal Card  (Repro)                        Plumbing

 

Cincinnati-Meats.jpg (65067 bytes)                Cincinnati-Railings.jpg (103805 bytes)                Cincinnati-Reed Furniture.jpg (73069 bytes)
            Meats                                    Wire-Iron-Bronze Work                          Reed Furniture

 

Engines-Forging-Lighting-Woodwork.jpg (430877 bytes)                Roofing-Pumps-Lodging-Castings.jpg (325702 bytes)
Various

 

Packet Pass-1912.jpg (68686 bytes)
1912 Pass for a V.I.P.

 

Packet Co. 1894 ad.jpg (55133 bytes)
1894 Ad.

 

STEAMBOAT  CABINS

  The next card is rarely seen. It shows the cabin area of an unnamed steamboat. On a packet the cabin ran the length of the interior of the passenger quarters on the boiler deck. They were usually painted white and were trimmed in gilt and adorned with turned wood columns and jig-saw work. On either side of the cabin were the stateroom doors, and overhead were glass skylight panes. The forward end was designated the men's cabin where the bar was located, while the aft end was the ladies cabin which was carpeted and terminated in a huge gilt-framed mirror. The cabin served the dual purpose of a lounging area and dining hall. The top image is a postcard, the other interiors are photographs.

Steamboat Cabin.jpg (114475 bytes)

 

 

Steamboat Interior.jpg (288486 bytes)        Boat Interior 2.jpg (660385 bytes)        Boat Interior 4.jpg (736385 bytes)        Boat Interior 1.jpg (974377 bytes)

   The first image above is of the interior of an unknown steamboat.  The second image is of the tunnel shaped cabin of the J. W. White. It had a Brussels carpet, opulent light fixtures, and a piano. The third image is the cabin of the Queen City with the table set for dinner. The last image shows passengers keeping warm around a pot bellied stove. You can see a cord laying on the deck leading from the camera to the man with his back to us. He was probably the photographer.

        Boat Interior 5.jpg (1926000 bytes)        Boat Interior 3.jpg (519988 bytes)        Boat Interior 6.jpg (1805324 bytes)

   The first two images show the cabin of the Grand Republic, the largest and most lavish steamer built after the Civil War. This palatial boat, built in 1876, arrived in Cincinnati on its maiden voyage. So many people came aboard to see her that the Captain left early, concerned that the lush carpets would be soiled. The last photograph was taken aboard the Henry M. Stanley in 1900.

 

Courier Cabin.jpg (336706 bytes)        Bonanza Cabin-1897.jpg (296599 bytes)

   The first image above shows the crew of the steamboat Courier seated for dinner. The open stateroom doors on each side show the bunk beds inside. In 1897 the 2nd image was taken in the cabin of the Bonanza.

 

FOR  MORE  STEAM BOATS