Nantucket (steamboat) facts for kids
The Nantucket was a special kind of boat called a sidewheel steamer. It worked like a ferry, carrying people and goods to the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. This happened in the late 1800s and early 1900s. On Martha's Vineyard, the Nantucket would stop at places like Cottage City (which is now Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts), Vineyard Haven, and the West Chop Wharf.
Building the Steamboat
The Nantucket was a big boat, weighing 629 tons. It was built in 1886 in Wilmington, Delaware. It was made for a company called the New Bedford, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket Steamboat Co. This company later became known as the Steamship Authority.
What Did It Look Like?
The Nantucket was 190 feet long and 33 feet wide. It was built very strongly with copper fasteners. Its double frame was made from tough woods like oak, hackmatack, and cedar. The bottom part of the boat, called the hull, had three special walls inside called bulkheads. These walls helped keep the boat safe if it got a leak. The boat floated in about four and a half feet of water.
According to an old newspaper article from 1961, the Nantucket had "decorated paddleboxes." These were large, round covers over its side wheels that looked very beautiful as they turned.
A New Nantucket
Many years later, in 1974, a new ferry was built. It was named the MV Nantucket to honor this old and famous sidewheel steamer.
