Minne-Ha-Ha II facts for kids
The Minne-Ha-Ha is a special kind of steamboat called a sternwheeler. It sails on Lake George in New York. The boat is owned and run by the Lake George Steamboat Company.
Contents
The Minne-Ha-Ha's Story
Why a New Boat Was Needed
Back in the 1950s and 60s, the Lake George Steamboat Company had two main ships: the Ticonderoga (II) and the Mohican (II). The Ticonderoga was a former navy ship, and the Mohican was an older steamer built in 1907-1908 that had been changed to run on diesel fuel.
As more and more tourists came to Lake George Village, which was the main place where the steamboats started their trips, people wanted shorter boat rides. The "Mo" and "Ti" offered longer cruises, but there was a need for a third boat to give visitors quicker options.
Wilbur Dow, who owned the company then, wanted the new boat to be an attraction itself. He decided it should be powered by steam, just like the old-fashioned boats. They thought about building a sidewheeler, but it would have looked too wide and short for its planned 100-foot length. So, they chose to build a sternwheel steamboat instead, which would be ready by the summer of 1969.
Building the Minne-Ha-Ha
The Minne-Ha-Ha was designed by the H.M. Tiedemann Company from New York City. Building started on October 2, 1968, at the Steamboat Company's shipyard in Baldwin, near Ticonderoga, New York.
The bottom part of the new ship, called the hull, was launched into the water on December 6, 1968. The Mohican then towed it to the Steel Pier in Lake George Village. Over the winter, the rest of the boat's structure was built there. The whole project cost $270,000.
The new boat was 103 feet long and 30 feet wide, sitting about 3.5 feet deep in the water. It weighed 200 tons and could go up to 7 miles per hour. On July 30, 1969, Wilbur Dow's wife, Ruth, officially named the ship Minne-Ha-Ha by breaking a champagne bottle against it. The name means "laughing waters." This was actually the second boat for the company to have this name; the first Minne-Ha-Ha was a sidewheeler that sailed from 1857 to 1878.
Big Changes in 1998
The Minne-Ha-Ha became very popular. So, Bill Dow, Wilbur Dow's son and the current owner, decided to update it. The ship needed to meet the rules of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which meant it had to be easier for people with disabilities to use. Also, its slow speed made it tricky to steer.
On September 14, 1998, the Minne-Ha-Ha sailed to the drydock in Baldwin. Its old hull was replaced with a new, better-designed one. The boat was then cut in half, and a 34-foot section was added in the middle to make it longer.
On December 9, 1998, the boat was launched back into the lake. Just like in 1968, its sister ship, the Mohican, towed it back to the Steel Pier. The rest of the boat was finished there, and the renovation was complete by late May 1999.
What Was Added and Changed
- An elevator was added to make the second deck accessible for everyone.
- A small propeller, powered by a Caterpillar Diesel engine, was put in front of the paddlewheel. This was a safety backup in case the ship lost steam power. It also helped the larger Minne-Ha-Ha with docking and kept it from getting stuck on rocks due to strong winds. Even with this propeller, the Minne-Ha-Ha still uses only its steam paddlewheel for its main trips.
- Its two original smokestacks were removed and replaced with one tall, sleek stack. The boat's three steam whistles were moved to this new stack. The old stacks can still be seen mounted on the Steel Pier.
- The ship kept its steam calliope, which plays music after every cruise.
- A large 12 x 20 foot skylight was added to the top deck.
After these changes, the Minne-Ha-Ha was 137 feet long, 30 feet wide, and sat 3 feet 9 inches deep in the water. Its top speed increased to about 8 miles per hour.
The 21st Century and Beyond
The Minne-Ha-Ha continues to sail on Lake George. In 2001, its paddlewheel was rebuilt. After the 2007 season, the skylight was removed and replaced with a raised seating area, giving more passengers a better view. In 2008, the Minne-Ha-Ha's calliope played "Happy Birthday" to celebrate the 100th birthday of its sister ship, the Mohican.
In 2013, the Steamboat Company brought back an old tradition: steamers now play their calliopes as they return to port in Lake George Village, in addition to playing after each cruise. As of 2020, the Minnie-Ha-Ha II has been in service for 51 years. It sails alongside its two sister ships, the M/V Mohican II and the M/V Lac du Saint Sacrement.
Cruises Offered
Since August 1, 1969, the Minne-Ha-Ha has offered six hourly trips every day during the summer months. In the spring and fall, it sails on weekends. Because the boat is so popular, a seventh hourly cruise was added over the years, along with a special moonlight entertainment cruise on Saturday nights. The boat's short, relaxed cruises quickly made it a favorite.
Steam Whistles
The Minne-Ha-Ha has three old, working steam whistles on its stack. These include:
- An 8-inch Crosby 3-Chime whistle.
- An 8-inch by 50-inch single-note "Mockingbird" whistle.
- A 1912 3-Bell Lunkenheimer steam whistle, which originally came from the "Iroquois," an Army Corps of Engineers boat on the Ohio River.
The "Mockingbird" whistle was first used in 1970, replacing the boat's original 3-chime whistle. The Crosby was added in the 1970s, and the Lunkenheimer was added during the 1998 renovation.
Calliope Music
The Minne-Ha-Ha offers real steam calliope concerts every day. You can hear the calliope play after each cruise and as the boat sails back to port. The first calliope was built in 1974 by the Frisbie Engine & Machine Co. In 1993, a smaller calliope replaced it. Then, in 2013, a brand new calliope was built and installed by Dave Morecraft.
