George M. Verity (towboat) facts for kids
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| History | |
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 United States |
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| Name |
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| Builder | Dubuque Boat and Boiler Works |
| Launched | 1927 |
| Out of service | 1960 |
| Status | Museum ship |
| General characteristics | |
| Length | 162.5 ft (49.5 m) |
| Beam |
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| Depth | 5.1 ft (1.6 m) |
| Installed power | 2 × Nordberg Machine Works tandem-compound condensing steam engines |
| Propulsion |
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George M. Verity (Towboat)
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 Location in Iowa
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| Location | Keokuk, Iowa |
| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Dubuque Boat & Boiler Works |
| NRHP reference No. | 89002459 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | 20 December 1989 |
| Designated NHL | 29 December 1989 |
The George M. Verity is a special kind of boat called a towboat. Today, it's a museum ship you can visit in Keokuk, Iowa. This boat was built way back in 1927. Its first name was SS Thorpe. It's super important because it's one of only three steam-powered towboats left in the whole United States! Because it's so unique, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1989.
Contents
What is the George M. Verity?
The George M. Verity is a towboat made of steel. It uses steam power and has a big paddlewheel at the back. This type of boat is called a stern-wheeler. The boat is about 130.1 feet (39.7 m) long. If you include the paddlewheel, it's about 162.5 feet (49.5 m) long.
When it was first built, the boat was 35.1 feet (10.7 m) wide. Later, it was made wider, to 40.6 feet (12.4 m). It has a flat bottom, like a scow. Inside, it has a special support system. This system helps hold up the heavy parts, like the boilers and engines.
The Boat's Journey: From Thorpe to Verity
The Verity was built in 1927 in Dubuque, Iowa. It was made for the Inland Waterways Corporation. This was a part of the United States Government. The SS Thorpe was one of four new towboats. They were used to start a new barge service on the upper Mississippi River.
The Thorpe was the very first boat to move barges from St. Louis all the way north to St. Paul. It worked on the Mississippi River until 1940. Then, it was sold to a company called Armco Steel Corp. They moved the boat to work on the Ohio River. Armco renamed the boat after their founder, George M. Verity.
Becoming a Museum Ship
In 1960, the George M. Verity stopped working. It had been in service for 33 years on both the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. In 1961, the boat was given to the City of Keokuk. They wanted to turn it into a river museum.
The museum opened in 1962. The boat was placed in a special drydock. This means it's on land, not in the water. Today, the George M. Verity is in Victory Park. It is home to the George M. Verity River Museum. This museum teaches visitors about the history of the Upper Mississippi River. You can visit it from April to November, daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
See also
