The City of Florence Riverboat: A Literature Review
The Tri-City area has a
rich history, but one story that appears forgotten by time is that of the City
of Florence Riverboat. In 1822, the first riverboat to venture to the Shoals
was the Rocket. After this first voyage
to north Alabama, these boats regularly carried goods, supplies and passengers
to destinations along the Tennessee and Mississippi rivers (Antebellum, 2000). One boat in particular rose to fame during
the “steamboat era,” this steamboat was much lighter, thus it could challenge
the Shoals. The City of Florence
riverboat is depicted as a small shallow craft used to transport goods across
the Shoals when other deeper boats failed (Rice, 92). Riverboats were more than just a method of transportation
and created a way of life that was truly unique. These boats have a story that needs to be shared
with future generations as it applies to many areas of importance in the
Shoals. From its enchanting beginning to its tragic end, The City of Florence
Riverboat intertwines cultural, economical and geographical importance into its
history.
Glamour, power and fame, these words are synonymous with the antebellum period steamboats. Steamers primed navigable paths through Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi to carry goods, resources, and people (Leftwich, 84). Steamboats are associated with first-class facilities and the opportunities they created for traveling holidaymakers. Newspapers, such as the Florence Times, encouraged guests to travel aboard these steamboats and printed articles highlighting the pleasurable atmosphere; complete with lively music, dancing and refreshments (Florence Times, 1895). Tickets for these boats ranged in price but for the most part were economical for guests that enjoyed traveling. Frequently, guests boarded the steamboats because of advertisements promoting complimentary travel to novel places such as Florence, Alabama (Davidson, 292). These advertisements featured short articles promoting a steamboat racing, which was a popular sport of the day (Leftwich, 85). This sometimes-dangerous sport presented the crew an opportunity to make the time spent aboard the ship enjoyment. Traveling by steamboat was an experience that no passenger would forget. With such a commotion, the river seemed to come alive with “floating palaces” around 1860 (Leftwich, 82). Steamboats were prototypes akin to modern major cruise liners as they featured saloons, dancing space, libraries and plenty of neat, staterooms for guests. The saloon, as the largest room on the steamboat often doubled as the dining room (Mellown, 2008). These steamboats, like modern cruisers provided their guests with entertainment. Music attracted many guests to the antebellum period steamboat. Deckhands and crew would play string instruments, calliopes and sing for the guests aboard the boats (Leftwich 82). Music would create a light, happy mood among the guests, these feelings were what the steamboats were most famous for and the phrase “light fantastic” was used to describe those feelings (Reaper, 1901). This phrase provides imagery of a time where guests had not a worry in the world, except what song would play next. Passengers hoped to have the promised “light fantastic” time; they would leave their cares on other shores and embrace all that the steamboats boasted. Advertised as pleasure cruises, traveling this way was notoriously dangerous. Passengers aboard the steamboats faced dangers such as running aground, cabin fires, and boiler explosions. Stagecoaches proved themselves as a more reliable mode of transportation because they did not put their passengers in such dangerous situations (Mellown, 2008). Despite these treacherous conditions, passengers continued to travel aboard steamboats and travel this way. The train later replaced this once popular, vibrant means of transportation, but its rich cultural implications can still be found throughout the South.
Around the early 1800s, the steamboat increased trade significantly along the Tennessee River. Before this time, flatboats, keelboats and rafts were the major form of transporting goods and trade throughout the South (Antebellum, 2000). The steamboat replaced multiple types of transportation because it was able to navigate the Tennessee better. This time is associated with being the “golden age” of steamboating, during which the agriculture and commerce of the region surrounding the Tennessee River thrived (Teuton, 41). Larger amounts of goods and services could easily move along the Tennessee River using the steamboat. The transporting of travelers was a secondary purpose; among the primary purposes of these boats were serving as a mean of trade and commerce between river towns. Larger steamboats could hold from 3,000 to 5,000 bales of cotton (Davidson, 294). Capacity for goods and passengers provided steamboats an edge on other types of transportation. These boats carried goods such as flour, pork, whiskey, tobacco, cotton, livestock and passengers to different ports along the Tennessee, Mississippi, and Cumberland River. Steamers allowed the plantation grown cotton to be transported throughout the state and around the South. Other goods carried along the river include luxury items such as furniture, clothing, coffee, and household goods. During the early 1800’s the ease in trade, afforded by the riverboats, allowed the plantation owners to thrive (Mellown, 2008). Those who worked on the steamboats came from diverse backgrounds. Crews included farm boys, city folk, Irish and German immigrants, free blacks, and slaves that worked aboard these steamers (Allen, 2009). Places such as Tuscumbia and the Shoals area arose during the era of the steamboat. This era introduced the north Alabama and southern Tennessee regions to the world market (Leftwich, 77).
Steamboats faced challenges due to the treacherous geography the South. The snaking narrows and flinty rocks of Muscle Shoals proved a setback for this technology (Davidson, 291). Originally, flatboats and keelboats carried heavy freight back and forth but were ineffective because of the limitations of each boat. Easier access was provided by the boats, contact to places in the South that was often limited because of the dangerous shoals (McDonald, 47). The Shoals divided the Tennessee River and the history of the steamboat. Until the river was made navigable, the popularity of this transportation was limited (Teuton, 40). The construction and completion of the Wheeler Dam in 1925 created the flowing Tennessee known today (McDonald, 47). Earlier in the century, inaccessibility of trade on land was largely due to poorly maintained roads and the complications of bad weather (Mellown,2008) Many of these challenges caused by geography caused the end of the steamboat era, a faster, more reliable form of transportation --the train and the automobile—were taking its place (McDonald, 48-49). During the 1830’s brought about the construction by the Tuscumbia Railway Company and with the laying of the tracks, the life of the riverboat would never be the same (Leftwich, 87). The river is used presently is largely for transporting goods, but the crafts that possess the waterways now are diesel-powered tows (Mellown, 2008). The riverboat brought new existence to the peoples, who lived along the Tennessee River, especially those in the Shoals area.
The extravagant past of the City of Florence riverboat needs to be placed in the hands of a new generation. Although the popularity of this transportation only lasted from 1828 to 1920, its effect is still perceived today. Turner Rice, a writer for the Journal of Muscle Shoals history said this of the life of the steamboat, “River steamboating was a long time dyin’, but the end was inevitable.” Culturally these boats introduced many travelers to diversity that they had never experienced. Economically, this monumental mode of transportation facilitated and revitalized much of the wealth the Shoals area still enjoys. Lastly, the riverboats brought changes geographically. These changes established new routes of trade in the South and generated a model for future modes of transportation. Alabama should share the City of Florence riverboats tumultuous, yet fantastic history with the future generations.
Glamour, power and fame, these words are synonymous with the antebellum period steamboats. Steamers primed navigable paths through Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi to carry goods, resources, and people (Leftwich, 84). Steamboats are associated with first-class facilities and the opportunities they created for traveling holidaymakers. Newspapers, such as the Florence Times, encouraged guests to travel aboard these steamboats and printed articles highlighting the pleasurable atmosphere; complete with lively music, dancing and refreshments (Florence Times, 1895). Tickets for these boats ranged in price but for the most part were economical for guests that enjoyed traveling. Frequently, guests boarded the steamboats because of advertisements promoting complimentary travel to novel places such as Florence, Alabama (Davidson, 292). These advertisements featured short articles promoting a steamboat racing, which was a popular sport of the day (Leftwich, 85). This sometimes-dangerous sport presented the crew an opportunity to make the time spent aboard the ship enjoyment. Traveling by steamboat was an experience that no passenger would forget. With such a commotion, the river seemed to come alive with “floating palaces” around 1860 (Leftwich, 82). Steamboats were prototypes akin to modern major cruise liners as they featured saloons, dancing space, libraries and plenty of neat, staterooms for guests. The saloon, as the largest room on the steamboat often doubled as the dining room (Mellown, 2008). These steamboats, like modern cruisers provided their guests with entertainment. Music attracted many guests to the antebellum period steamboat. Deckhands and crew would play string instruments, calliopes and sing for the guests aboard the boats (Leftwich 82). Music would create a light, happy mood among the guests, these feelings were what the steamboats were most famous for and the phrase “light fantastic” was used to describe those feelings (Reaper, 1901). This phrase provides imagery of a time where guests had not a worry in the world, except what song would play next. Passengers hoped to have the promised “light fantastic” time; they would leave their cares on other shores and embrace all that the steamboats boasted. Advertised as pleasure cruises, traveling this way was notoriously dangerous. Passengers aboard the steamboats faced dangers such as running aground, cabin fires, and boiler explosions. Stagecoaches proved themselves as a more reliable mode of transportation because they did not put their passengers in such dangerous situations (Mellown, 2008). Despite these treacherous conditions, passengers continued to travel aboard steamboats and travel this way. The train later replaced this once popular, vibrant means of transportation, but its rich cultural implications can still be found throughout the South.
Around the early 1800s, the steamboat increased trade significantly along the Tennessee River. Before this time, flatboats, keelboats and rafts were the major form of transporting goods and trade throughout the South (Antebellum, 2000). The steamboat replaced multiple types of transportation because it was able to navigate the Tennessee better. This time is associated with being the “golden age” of steamboating, during which the agriculture and commerce of the region surrounding the Tennessee River thrived (Teuton, 41). Larger amounts of goods and services could easily move along the Tennessee River using the steamboat. The transporting of travelers was a secondary purpose; among the primary purposes of these boats were serving as a mean of trade and commerce between river towns. Larger steamboats could hold from 3,000 to 5,000 bales of cotton (Davidson, 294). Capacity for goods and passengers provided steamboats an edge on other types of transportation. These boats carried goods such as flour, pork, whiskey, tobacco, cotton, livestock and passengers to different ports along the Tennessee, Mississippi, and Cumberland River. Steamers allowed the plantation grown cotton to be transported throughout the state and around the South. Other goods carried along the river include luxury items such as furniture, clothing, coffee, and household goods. During the early 1800’s the ease in trade, afforded by the riverboats, allowed the plantation owners to thrive (Mellown, 2008). Those who worked on the steamboats came from diverse backgrounds. Crews included farm boys, city folk, Irish and German immigrants, free blacks, and slaves that worked aboard these steamers (Allen, 2009). Places such as Tuscumbia and the Shoals area arose during the era of the steamboat. This era introduced the north Alabama and southern Tennessee regions to the world market (Leftwich, 77).
Steamboats faced challenges due to the treacherous geography the South. The snaking narrows and flinty rocks of Muscle Shoals proved a setback for this technology (Davidson, 291). Originally, flatboats and keelboats carried heavy freight back and forth but were ineffective because of the limitations of each boat. Easier access was provided by the boats, contact to places in the South that was often limited because of the dangerous shoals (McDonald, 47). The Shoals divided the Tennessee River and the history of the steamboat. Until the river was made navigable, the popularity of this transportation was limited (Teuton, 40). The construction and completion of the Wheeler Dam in 1925 created the flowing Tennessee known today (McDonald, 47). Earlier in the century, inaccessibility of trade on land was largely due to poorly maintained roads and the complications of bad weather (Mellown,2008) Many of these challenges caused by geography caused the end of the steamboat era, a faster, more reliable form of transportation --the train and the automobile—were taking its place (McDonald, 48-49). During the 1830’s brought about the construction by the Tuscumbia Railway Company and with the laying of the tracks, the life of the riverboat would never be the same (Leftwich, 87). The river is used presently is largely for transporting goods, but the crafts that possess the waterways now are diesel-powered tows (Mellown, 2008). The riverboat brought new existence to the peoples, who lived along the Tennessee River, especially those in the Shoals area.
The extravagant past of the City of Florence riverboat needs to be placed in the hands of a new generation. Although the popularity of this transportation only lasted from 1828 to 1920, its effect is still perceived today. Turner Rice, a writer for the Journal of Muscle Shoals history said this of the life of the steamboat, “River steamboating was a long time dyin’, but the end was inevitable.” Culturally these boats introduced many travelers to diversity that they had never experienced. Economically, this monumental mode of transportation facilitated and revitalized much of the wealth the Shoals area still enjoys. Lastly, the riverboats brought changes geographically. These changes established new routes of trade in the South and generated a model for future modes of transportation. Alabama should share the City of Florence riverboats tumultuous, yet fantastic history with the future generations.