Martha's Vineyard (steamboat) facts for kids

Martha's Vineyard
Quick facts for kids History
Name	Martha's Vineyard
Builder	Lawrence & Foulks (Williamsburg, NY)
Completed	1871
Renamed	Keyport (1913)
Fate	Sunk in collision in New York Harbor, 1916
General characteristics
Type	Sidewheel passenger steamboat
Tonnage	515
Length	185 ft (56 m)
Beam	29 ft (8.8 m)
Propulsion	Vertical beam

The Martha's Vineyard was a special kind of boat called a sidewheel steamer. It worked as a ferry, carrying people and goods to the island of Martha's Vineyard in the late 1800s. Imagine a boat with huge wheels on its sides, pushing it through the water!

Building the Martha's Vineyard

The Martha's Vineyard was built in 1871 by a company called Lawrence & Foulks in Williamsburg, New York. It was made mostly of wood.

This steamboat was quite large for its time. It weighed 515 tons and was about 185 feet long. That's longer than five school buses lined up! It also had a width, or "beam," of 29 feet.

People thought the Martha's Vineyard was a very beautiful ship. An old newspaper article from 1961 described its "decorated paddleboxes." These were the big covers over the side wheels, which looked like "large, rhythmic and beautiful half-circles."

The boat's design was a bit open at first. It didn't have a full "hurricane deck" where passengers could walk around. Later, they added a partial one.

Inside, the ship was quite fancy. The cabins and main rooms were comfortable and decorated nicely. There were special stairs made of black walnut wood leading to the ladies' saloon, which was a large, carpeted room. The main promenade saloon was 90 feet long, with big windows looking out over the water. It even had a beautiful dome with fancy glass windows over a stairway.

The Martha's Vineyard's Journeys

From 1871 to 1886, the Martha's Vineyard and another steamboat called the Monohansett were the only two ferries that served Martha's Vineyard island. They were super important for connecting the island to the mainland!

In 1886, the Martha's Vineyard joined a new company called the New Bedford, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket Steamboat Co. This company later became known as the Steamship Authority. The Martha's Vineyard was one of the first four steamers to work for this new company. The others were the River Queen, the Island Home, and the Monohansett.

The original Martha's Vineyard steamboat was renamed Keyport in 1913. Sadly, it sank in a collision in New York Harbor in 1916.

Other Ships Named Martha's Vineyard

The name Martha's Vineyard has been used for other ferries too!

• In 1922, a new steam-powered ferry also named Martha's Vineyard started serving the island. It operated for at least 20 years.
• In 1993, a modern, diesel-powered ferry named MV Martha's Vineyard began its service. This ship travels between Martha's Vineyard and Woods Hole. It's the third vessel to carry this famous name!

Images for kids

• 

  Martha's Vineyard at Union Wharf in Vineyard Haven, MA in 1900.

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  Postcard image of Martha's Vineyard at Gay Head Landing in Aquinnah, MA circa 1907-1917.

• 

  Martha's Vineyard, from an 1890s souvenir booklet.