National Museum of Transportation near Kirkwood in St. Louis County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The H.T. Pott Towboat
Imagine traveling down the Missouri...
You can walk the decks of the "H.T. Pott," the first Missouri River towboat with a welded steel hull instead of a riveted hull.
• The vessel, built in 1933, operated out of Kansas City, MO. It is named for Herman T. Pott (1895-1982), a distinguished river transportation executive and entrepreneur. The "H.T. Pott" was built by his St. Louis Shipyard & Steel Co., which had operated under several names since the Civil War.
• Groups of barges that are moved on the nation's rivers are called "tows." The boats that propel them are called "towboats," even though they push the barges from the back instead of pulling them.
• The "H.T. Pott" is 58 feet long and 15 feet wide, and has a "draft," i.e., the amount of the hull below the water line, of six feet. It was built with a 140 horsepower Fairbanks-More diesel engine, since replaced with a 260 horsepower GM diesel. Last used by Massman-Peterman Construction Company, the towboat was donated by Robert A. Latta in 1986.
• How did it arrive at the landlocked Museum? A truck brought in the vessel's hull after which its engine was reinstalled and a replica deckhouse built. Mrs. Pott rededicated the "H.T. Pott" in memory of her husband in 1989.
Erected by Museum
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1933.
Location. 38° 34.355′ N, 90° 27.709′ W. Marker is near Kirkwood, Missouri, in St. Louis County. It is in National Museum of Transportation. Marker can be reached from Barrett Station Road east of Old Dougherty Ferry Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2933 Barrett Station Road, Saint Louis MO 63122, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Tow Boat H.T. Pott (a few steps from this marker); #2 (a few steps from this marker); Douglas Aircraft C-47A Transport (within shouting distance of this marker); #95589 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Sellers Turntable (within shouting distance of this marker); #6944 (within shouting distance of this marker); #4006 (within shouting distance of this marker); "Daniel Nason" (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kirkwood.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 27, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 180 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 27, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
