Beverly in Washington County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Buckeye Belle Explosion
Photographed By J. J. Prats, April 23, 2017
1. The Buckeye Belle Explosion Marker
On November 12, 1852, the riverboat Buckeye Belle exploded at this site. Twenty-four people died and a dozen were injured in the worst steamboat disaster on the Muskingum River. An eyewitness described the scene: “The bank of the canal was covered with dead and mutilated bodies and fragments of the boat and cargo.” Boiler explosions were a hazard of steamboat travel. The safety record on the Muskingum River was good. There are only two other recorded riverboat explosions on the Muskingum River. The Newark blew-up in 1847 at Rokeby, killing four, and the L.C. McCormick exploded in 1879 south of Beverly, killing one.
Erected 1997 by Muskingum River Parkway and the Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 3-84.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 12, 1852.
Location. 39° 32.875′ N, 81° 38.561′ W. Marker is in Beverly, Ohio, in Washington County. Marker is at the intersection of Ohio Street and 5th Street (Ohio Route 60), on the left when traveling west on Ohio Street. It is at Lock 4, Muskingum
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Peninsula (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fort Frye (approx. 0.7 miles away); Steamer Buckeye Belle (approx. ¾ mile away); Round Bottom Schoolhouse / Round Bottom Cemetery (approx. 3 miles away); Water Power on the Muskingum River (approx. 4.2 miles away); Big Bottom Massacre (approx. 7.4 miles away); Brick Church and Cemetery (approx. 7.4 miles away); Fortified Settlement (approx. 7.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beverly.
Also see . . . Buckeye Belle Boiler Explosion. U.S. Deadly Events website entry (Submitted on June 6, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Additional keywords. The Buckeye Belle Explosion
Photographed By J. J. Prats, April 23, 2017
2. The Buckeye Belle Explosion Marker
Photographed By J. J. Prats, April 23, 2017
3. Muskingum River System, Lock No. 4
Photographed By J. J. Prats, April 23, 2017
4. Lock No. 4 Lockmaster’s House
Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 26, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 764 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 26, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photos of the monument in Beverly Cemetery that honors the dead of this tragedy • Can you help?
