Cape Girardeau in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Pook's Turtles
Did you Know?
Between August 1861 and January 1862, a series of seven gunboats were designed by Samuel Pook and built by James Eads at a cost of more than $100,000 each. Four gunboats were built at the Carondelet Marine Ways just south of St. Louis; the other three were built at Mound City, IL. The gunboats were named after cities along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, but some observers referred to them as Pook's Turtles because of their squat, armored appearance.
The gunboats looked so similar that colored bands were painted on their smokestacks to differentiate each boat. The ironclads were 175 feet long and 50 feet wide. Weighing more than 500 tons, they could only travel about 7 to 10 miles per hour but, thanks to their low and broad shape they could navigate water as little as seven feet deep. Each boat carried thirteen large cannons - more firepower than all four forts in Cape Girardeau combined.
The four boats built at Carondelet headed downstream, passing Cape Girardeau, in November 1861. In early February 1862, the gunboats captured Fort Henry on the Tennessee River: the first major Union victory of the Civil War. Next, the boats helped capture Island #10 at New Madrid, MO in April 1862.
After the Civil War, James Eads, became even more well known as the builder of namesake bridge in St. Louis, which is still in use today.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1862.
Location. 37° 18.349′ N, 89° 31.04′ W. Marker is in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in Cape Girardeau County. Marker is at the intersection of North Water Street and Broadway Street, on the right when traveling north on North Water Street. Marker is along the Mississippi River behind the River Wall flood gate at the end of Broadway Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cape Girardeau MO 63701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. "Red Rover, Red Rover" (here, next to this marker); 1735 (a few steps from this marker); 1793 (a few steps from this marker); 1673 (within shouting distance of this marker); Reflecting the River (within shouting distance of this marker); 1803 (within shouting distance of this marker); 1804 (within shouting distance of this marker); 1821 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cape Girardeau.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 29, 2012, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 826 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 29, 2012, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.