Description:
A side view of the "City of St. Louis". This was a side wheel steamboat. In 1880 plans were made for a new steamboat to connect with the Minneapolis & Saint Louis Railway of which MN US Senator William D. Washburn had controlling interest.. It was the first inland vessel in the US with electric lights. It was 160 feet long and could hold 800 people. It was launched in June 1881. Sen. Washburn wrote twice to James J. Hill in early 1881 to try to stop the rumors the "City of Saint Louis" would run only in connection with the Minneapolis & Saint Louis Railway. He assured him the boat wouldn't show any preferential treatment. He got no response from Hill. In 1882 Hill launched his own steamer the "Belle of Minnetonka" and an intense rivalry commenced that led to dangerous races between the two boats. In 1882 to better compete with the "Belle" another deck was added to increase passenger capacity to 1500. Corporate complexities with internal conflicts became a part of the Minnetonka steamboat business. The conflicts etc. ended after the 1883 season. In 1889 Hill's Lake Minnetonka Navigation Company purchased the "City". By 1890 the "City" stopped its scheduled runs and was used only for chartered excursions. The "City"'s Commodore Charles A. Zimmerman gave the steamer an overhaul in 1896 with hopes of drawing a larger crowds with regularly scheduled trips around the lake. It failed and by 1897 the "City" was sold to the Great Northern Railway Company. Great Northern leased the "City" to Captain John R. Johnson in 1897. The "City" proved to be too run down and costly and used just on the 4th of July. On October 26, 1898 Great Northern contacted Captain Johnson to dismantle and wreck the "Ctiy". ADOOB by Scott McGinnis
Date:
after 1881— early 1900's
Title:
The steamboat "City of Saint Louis"
Medium:
Print, Photographic
Original Object Size:
17.3x11.4 cm
Location:
Lake Minnetonka
Digital Image Width:
4135.00
Holdings:
Excelsior—Lake Minnetonka Historical Society Photograph Collection
Digital Image Height:
2806.00
Record Name:
SP—BB16
File Size:
34808670
Copies:
A high resolution (600 dpi) version of this image is stored offline. Please contact the owning repository to obtain a copy for a fee.
Copyright:
Excelsior—Lake Minnetonka Historical Society
Copyright 2011, —— This image may not be reproduced for any reason without the express written consent of the Excelsior—Lake Minnetonka Historical Society send comments, questions to Info@elmhs.org
Copyright 2011, —— This image may not be reproduced for any reason without the express written consent of the Excelsior—Lake Minnetonka Historical Society send comments, questions to Info@elmhs.org
Language:
English
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