The Western River Steamboat Heroine, 1832–1838, Oklahoma, USA: construction

Abstract

This paper describes the design and construction of the side‐wheel steamer Heroine, a representative of the ‘western river steamboat’ type and the earliest example of its kind to undergo archaeological study. Heroine was built at New Albany, Indiana, in 1832 and sunk on the Red River between Oklahoma and Texas in 1838. The extensive remains of the lower hull show assembly practices in use during the developmental era of Mississippi River steamboats. The wreck also reveals a heretofore‐unknown technique for longitudinally strengthening these long, narrow, and very lightly built hulls.

Key words:

• Mississippi River
• inland navigation
• steamboat construction
• North American river boats

Acknowledgements

The study of Heroine was, and continues to be, supported by the Oklahoma Historical Society, Texas A&M University (TAMU), the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, and the Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation at TAMU. Analysis and reconstruction of the hull would not have been possible without the painstaking recording work carried out by project crewmembers over seven field seasons. The author also extends many thanks the University of Maine's Darling Marine Center for providing an ideal location for completing the preparation of this article.

Notes

1. All samples of wood from Heroine's hull were identified by Dr Roy Whitmore, Professor Emeritus, Forestry Department, University of Vermont.

2. The weight estimate calculations were prepared by Glenn Grieco from his CAD reconstruction of Heroine's boiler system, based on the remains of the steamboat's boiler system and on the arrangement seen in P. Hodge's The Steam Engine, Plate XXXIII. Materials included the cast‐ and wrought‐iron in the boilers and their mountings (35.7 cubic ft @ 491 pounds per cubic ft = 17,528.7-lbs); brick for the lining of the fireboxes (18.65 cubic ft @ 120 pounds per cubic ft = 2234.4-lbs [the standard weight for red brick, Heroine's fire brick may be heavier but the difference is probably negligible]); and the weight of the water which filled the boilers about half way when the boilers were used (174.44 cubic ft @ 62.4 pounds per cubic ft = 10885.056-lbs). This totals 30,648-lbs (15.32 tons, or 13,898-kg, or 13.9 metric tonnes).

Additional information

Funding

Oklahoma Historical Society, Texas A&M University (TAMU)

Institute of Nautical Archaeology

Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation at TAMU