The images of the Golden Eagle River Museum Collection consist of photographs, drawings and other images of vessels and people that work or worked on the inland waterways of the United States, as well as towns and landmarks along the rivers.
Beardstown harbor on the Illinois River., The enclosed pictures were taken during August 1981 on the Beardstown Illinois waterfront showing typical river scenes with the usual amount of tugs and other equipment. The B&N RR bridge in its river mode. The stern-wheel river tug is a locally built boat, original builders and name still showing = LOGSDON = built sometime in the 1930s more details could be obtained. These pictures were taken and furnished by Beardstown native W. A. Morrison.
Note: Illinois River was still near flood (bankfull) stage when these pictures were taken
Beardstown harbor on the Illinois River. Tugboat ELVA LEE., The enclosed pictures were taken during August 1981 on the Beardstown Illinois waterfront showing typical river scenes with the usual amount of tugs and other equipment. The B&N RR bridge in its river mode. The stern-wheel river tug is a locally built boat, original builders and name still showing = LOGSDON = built sometime in the 1930s more details could be obtained. These pictures were taken and furnished by Beardstown native W. A. Morrison.
Note: Illinois River was still near flood (bankfull) stage when these pictures were taken
Photograph of the steamboat DELTA QUEEN near a railroad bridge north of Hannibal, Mo. "15 barge tow ran into this bridge knocking down center span. April 1981. Turn table swing section on left side of picture in open position. No loss of life or boat. Accident caused by swing section tender not opening section after train passed over. Fast currant and slow opening left no place to go for the tow.”
"Golden Eagle" below Eads Bridge St. Louis MO. Picture taken May 17, 1947 before departure for her last trip to Nashville, Tenn. She sank next morning May 18 at Grand Tower Island after striking rock formation and fearing a 6 foot hole in the center seam in the hull. The Pilot Nathan Smith beached her and all passengers & crew were saved. Repeated floods in the summer of 1947 made raising of the "Golden Eagle" impossible. The Pilot House was removed and is on display at Jefferson Memorial, Forest Park, St. L.
Mississippi Valley Barge Co. Terminal. Photograph. Baltimore and Ohio locomotive and Chesapeake and Ohio frieght cars at the terminal. Railroad bridge in background.
The steamer PLUCK of the Henry W. Alsop Line. Barge in foreground. Barge or ferry in the mid-ground, along with the boat WINNIPEG. A Northern Pacific train runs in the background, where there is also a railroad bridge.
To be able in small way to be part of the restoration and preservation of our history and of the steamboats that made it possible for this country to become truly great is a great satisfaction. Signed: John Shipley