Topic starter
20/08/2007 9:04 am
Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to put out a blanket request for advice, donations, partnerships, or sourcing info.
We are trying to start a Riverboat/Steamboat/Inland Maritime museum in Alexandria, Louisiana with focus on the lower Mississippi and Red River system. Ideally we would be able to offer an insight to water travel from the original Spanish and French explorers and settlers all the way up to the retirement of the paddle-wheelers during the last century.
Part of trying to promote this idea is simply being able to show that artifacts and materials for display would actually be available for the establishment of such a facility.
If anyone can point me in the right direction on how to go about sourcing for such a museum I would be very appreciative.
Also, does anyone know of any good sites that cover the Sailing vessels used for river trade? I can't seem to find much on this forgotten segment of our local history, but I know from the few photos and paintings I have seen of the Red River at Alexandria that Sailing vessels were still in use even in the heyday of steamers and into the end of the 19th century at least.
Thanks,
Drew
Topic starter
20/08/2007 9:07 am
Oh yeah,
One of the most photo'd and painted vessels on the Red and especially servicing Alexandria was the Robert E. Lee. I haven't been able to find much on this boat. But I gather it was quite a famous ship at the time. Does anyone know if there is a quality large-scale model of it in existence?
23/08/2007 2:28 pm
There is a large model of the first Robt. E. Lee in the Mississippi River Museum at Mud Island in Memphis. That's the most famous Lee - the one that had the race with the Natchez. There was a second Lee, larger and fancier, built after the first one wore out. There were also other steamboats named Robt. E. Lee, both on the Mississippi River system and in other places. By the way, I built the model displayed at Mud Island. It took two and a half years. I delivered it to the musuem in Feb. 1981.
Topic starter
23/08/2007 3:02 pm
Thanks John,
Just curious, do you happen to have plans for the model or was it from a kit or what?
23/08/2007 4:48 pm
Drew-
While the Robt. E. Lee is probably the most known steamboat, she made only one trip on the Red according to my information, delivering a cargo of jugs to Shreveport in August of 1870. (Incidently, given the usual August water level, I would suspect that she actually trans-shipped the cargo to a lighter draft boat at Alexandria to carry on to Shreveport.) If you know of additonal trips, please let me know. A few of the best known boats on the Red would include the Eras (all 13 of them), New Falls City, Anna Everson (Anne E.), Cuba and Cuba No. 2, Golden Era, Pioneer Era, Lulu D., Mollie Fellows, Mollie Able, Lizzie Hopkins, Mittie Stephens, Fleta, Flicker, Judah Touro, B. L. Hodge, Lafourche, Reub. White, Gossamer, Carrie Poole, Right Way (or Right of Way), Joe T. Briarly, Cotton Plant, C. H. Durfee, Belle Crooks & W. T. Scovell.
HPB3
25/08/2007 3:37 am
Drew, My Lee model was scratch built from plans researched and drawn by Alan Bates. He still sells them. You can find his catalog under the models category on this site.