Riverside in Wilmington in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Steamboats & Ferries
Riverfront Wilmington
"Forty miles for 30 cents."
Last of the Steamboats: The Saga of the Wilson Line by Richard Elliott, 1970
By the late 1880s, the Wilmington shipyards were doing a brisk trade with both South American steamship lines and operators of the vastly popular excursion liners in the U.S. Working folks not only took a keen interest in the racing yachts built in Wilmington, but could also enjoy day long cruises on sleek, beautifully appointed steamboats.
J. Shields Wilson, a shipyard engineer from Camden, became president of the Wilmington Steamboat Company, later known as the Wilson Line, and helped design some of the fastest and most beautiful steamboats on the Delaware River.
[Captions:]
Right: The State of Pennsylvania, built for the Wilson Line by Pusey & Jones, was launched on the Christina River in 1923. Her maiden voyage was a moon-light cruise to Riverview Beach for a fare of 50 cents. Designed for maximum deck space, the ship featured a 3000 square-foot ballroom where a live orchestra played dance tunes. Here we see her with thousands of celebrants taking part in the Swedish tercentenary celebration on June 27, 1938.
Below: Brazilians proudly pose with the iron sidewheeler, Apurinan, built by Pusey &
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Bottom: The Rio Branco, built by Pusey & Jones for the Alto Amazonas Compannia of Brazil, is shown at anchor on the Christina River in 1870.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Sports • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is June 27, 1938.
Location. 39° 44.118′ N, 75° 33′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, Delaware, in New Castle County. It is in Riverside. Marker is on South Poplar Street, 0.1 miles south of East Front Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 110 S Poplar St, Wilmington DE 19801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Bird's Eye View (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Steamboats & Ferries (a few steps from this marker); The Great Railroad Boom (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Frank Furness Railroad District (about 600 feet away); The Underground Railroad (about 700 feet away); The Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park (about 700 feet away); Wilmington Station (about 700 feet away); Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Railroad Station (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 13, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 6, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 122 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 6, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
