St. Michaels in Talbot County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
A Mighty Pull
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
Handling heavy hawsers was hard, dangerous work on tugboats, but it became a little easier with power capstans. This capstan used steam from the same boilers that powered the steam tug America's 450-horsepower engine.
America assisted ships in the port of Baltimore and hauled barges laden with coal from 1920 until the Baker-Whiteley Towing Company sold her for scrap in the 1960s. On today's tugboats, the job of this steam capstan is accomplished by electric winches.
American Engineering Company, Philadelphia, 1920. 52 × 62 x 76 in (132 x 157 x 193 cm). Gift of Leon Talbut on behalf of Baker Whiteley Towing Company, 1970-36-8.
Erected by Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1920.
Location. 38° 47.248′ N, 76° 13.211′ W. Marker is in St. Michaels, Maryland, in Talbot County. Marker can be reached from Mill Street just east of Burns Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 213 North Talbot Street, Saint Michaels MD 21663, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lost Overboard (here, next to this marker); For Whom the Bell Tolls (a few steps from this marker);
this page online
More about this marker. [Caption:] Maker unknown, tug America (model). Gift of R. F. Dewberry, 2000-2-1.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 25, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 160 times since then and 10 times this year. Last updated on October 25, 2020, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 25, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
