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Midship Museum: A Steamboat Buffs Dream
| 题名： | Midship Museum: A Steamboat Buffs Dream |
| 正文语种： | eng |
| 作者： | KEITH NORRINGTON |
| 摘要： | When Frank Pierson purchased the steamer Mississippi (then a tourist attraction moored opposite Hannibal, Mo.) in early 1966 and brought it to St. Louis to replace his sunken Becky Thatcher, he envisioned a first-class steamboat museum on board and prevailed upon Ruth Ferris, St. Louis' esteemed river historian and recently retired curator of the Missouri Historical Society's River Room, to design it. Ferris eagerly accepted the opportunity to work on her beloved levee and later recalled the experience as the highlight of her longtime river interest. "Looking out one door of the boat all day long at the mighty Mississippi and Eads Bridge and out the other door at the magnificent Gateway Arch made my thoughts and spirit soar above everyday things," she said. Many of Ferris' former students from her 35-year teaching career and their children (whom Miss Ferris jokingly referred to as her grandchildren) visited her aboard the Becky. The museum officially opened 52 years ago on April 12. Appropriately named the Midship Museum, it was a true steamboat lover's dream, occupying a large room on the main deck of the big sternwheeler and adjoining the engineroom, where the 1926 Gillett and Eaton engines and other machinery remained intact. A gift shop occupied the area immediately forward of the museum along with the O'Brien watertube boilers, which were removed in late 1969 to make space for "The Boiler Room Bar." For a fare of 50 cents for adults and 25 cents for chil- dren, visitors viewed the museum room and then were led by guides into the engineroom, up through the cabin and on up to the hurricane and texas decks, with a pause at the stern to peek at the 24-foot sternwheel and monkey rudders, before ascending to the pilothouse with its 8-foot pilotwheel, engineroom telegraph and elevated lazy bench. Tourists were then taken back downstairs to shop for souvenirs and offered the option of a harbor cruise on the small excursion boat Mississippi Belle (operated by Capt. Art Denkmann) for $1! |
| 出版年： | 2021 |
| 期刊名称： | The Waterways Jouranl |
| 卷： | 135 |
| 期： | 7 |
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