Category Archives: Steamboat Birthplace

WHEELING’S GATEWAY PARK 2022 / WALKER DICK. OHIO VALLEY YACHT CLUB. WHEELING, WV by John Bowman

WALKER DICK. OHIO VALLEY YACHT CLUB. WHEELING, WV by John Bowman July 9, 2021 WW II had just ended and in 1945 a young man in his early 20s made his return to Wheeling.  This was Walker Dick.  Walker had been in New York City performing and working as an acrobat when his family gave […]

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TOWBOATS. OHIO RIVER TOWBOATS by John Bowman July 2021

TOWBOATS. OHIO RIVER TOWBOATS by John Bowman July 2021 Towboats seen on the Ohio River today are generally pushing (towing) a fifteen-barge tow, three barges abreast and five barges deep. Why call a diesel-powered boat pushing barges on the river a towboat?  When were Ohio River steamboats first called Towboats?  The first river ‘Towboats’ were […]

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THREE QUEENS VISIT WHEELING, WV the American, the Delta, and the Mississippi Queen Steamboats By John Bowman

American Queen 1994-             The McDermott Shipyard built the stern-wheel tourist-excursion boat American Queen in 1994 for the Delta Queen Steamboat Co.  She was launched in 1995 at an approximate cost of $60 million.  Her steam engines were from the U.S. dredge Kennedy.  As the paddle wheels were too small to move the large boat […]

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Ohio River, Wheeling, WV ‘Laying a Pipeline’ in the Ohio River at Wheeling Aug 1972 by John Bowman

‘Laying a Pipeline‘ in the East Channel of the Ohio River at Wheeling, WV.  In the summer of 1972 a pipeline was laid in the riverbed from Wheeling Island to Wheeling mainland.  Here, photos show the equipment they used and that a diver was needed to secure the line into the trench that had been […]

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TOWBOAT PHOTOS JOHN BOWMAN’s COLOR BOAT PHOTOS J – L Post 3 of 6

The majority of these Diesel Towboat Color Photos were taken at 40o 05’ 55.60” N 80o 42’ 21.04” W. Elevation 667’ Ohio River mile 87.6 at the lower end of (Warwood), Wheeling, West Virginia circa the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Many photos (150+) were taken on the Lower (L) Mississippi River, 30 at Warfield Point, near […]

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TOWBOAT PHOTOS JOHN BOWMAN’s COLOR BOAT PHOTOS U – W Post 6

The majority of these Diesel Towboat Color Photos were taken at 40o 05’ 55.60” N 80o 42’ 21.04” W. Elevation 667’ Ohio River mile 87.6 at the lower end of (Warwood), Wheeling, West Virginia circa the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Many photos (150+) were taken on the Lower (L) Mississippi River, 30 at Warfield Point, near […]

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TOWBOAT PHOTOS JOHN BOWMAN’s COLOR BOAT PHOTOS R – T Post 5 of 6

The majority of these Diesel Towboat Color Photos were taken at 40o 05’ 55.60” N 80o 42’ 21.04” W. Elevation 667’ Ohio River mile 87.6 at the lower end of (Warwood), Wheeling, West Virginia circa the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Many photos (150+) were taken on the Lower (L) Mississippi River, 30 at Warfield Point, near […]

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TOWBOAT PHOTOS JOHN BOWMAN’s COLOR BOAT PHOTOS M – Q Post 4 of 6

The majority of these Diesel Towboat Color Photos were taken at 40o 05’ 55.60” N 80o 42’ 21.04” W. Elevation 667’ Ohio River mile 87.6 at the lower end of (Warwood), Wheeling, West Virginia circa the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Many photos (150+) were taken on the Lower (L) Mississippi River, 30 at Warfield Point, near […]

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TOWBOAT PHOTOS JOHN BOWMAN’s COLOR BOAT PHOTOS D – I Post 2 of 6

The majority of these Diesel Towboat Color Photos were taken at 40o 05’ 55.60” N 80o 42’ 21.04” W. Elevation 667’ Ohio River mile 87.6 at the lower end of (Warwood), Wheeling, West Virginia circa the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Many photos (150+) were taken on the Lower (L) Mississippi River, 30 at Warfield Point, near […]

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TOWBOAT PHOTOS JOHN BOWMAN’s COLOR BOAT PHOTOS A – C Post 1 of 6

The majority of these Diesel Towboat Color Photos were taken at 40o 05’ 55.60” N 80o 42’ 21.04” W.  Elevation 667’ Ohio River mile 87.6 at the lower end of (Warwood), Wheeling, West Virginia circa the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Many photos (150+) were taken on the Lower (L) Mississippi River, 30 at Warfield Point, near […]

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