PS Alexander Hamilton facts for kids
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The Alexander Hamilton was a famous steamer. It was built in 1924 for the Hudson River Day Line. This large boat carried many passengers. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 25, 1977. Today, parts of the ship can still be seen. They are located near the Naval Weapons Station Earle pier in Middletown Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States |
|
| Name | Alexander Hamilton |
| Owner | Hudson River Day Line |
| Operator |
|
| Route | Hudson River between New York City and Albany, New York (until 1948) |
| Builder | Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation |
| In service | 1924 |
| Out of service | 1971 |
| Fate | Burned and sank 8 November 1977 |
| Notes | Ruins still partially visible however wreckage is within the security region of Naval Weapons Station Earle |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Passenger steamboat |
| Length | 349 ft 5 in (106.50 m) |
| Beam | 77 ft (23 m) |
| Draught | 8 ft 4 in (2.54 m)Error: has synonymous parameter (help) |
| Draft | 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)Error: has synonymous parameter (help) |
| Decks | 4 total, 3 complete and 1 partial |
| Installed power | Four Scotch marine boilers |
| Propulsion | Incline triple expansion engine |
| Capacity | 3,000 |
 Location in Monmouth County, New Jersey
|
|
| Location | near Naval Weapons Station Earle Middletown, New Jersey |
| Built | 1924 |
| Architect | Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation |
| Demolished | November 8, 1977 |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000887 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | March 25, 1977 |
History of the Alexander Hamilton
The Alexander Hamilton was a passenger steamboat. It traveled along the Hudson River in New York. Its main route was between New York City and Albany, New York. Later, its trips were shorter. It would turn around in Poughkeepsie, New York.
Building and Service Years
The Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation built the steamer in 1924. The Alexander Hamilton operated for many years. It was in service from 1924 to 1971. In its early years, it sailed with other Day Line steamers. One of these was the Peter Stuyvesant.
In the 1960s, the Hudson River Day Line company was bought. It became part of the Circle Line. After this, the Alexander Hamilton was the only boat running on its route.
Size and Capacity
The Alexander Hamilton was a very large boat. It was over 300 feet (91 meters) long. It was designed to carry more than 3,000 passengers. This made it a very important part of river travel.
Later Years and Fate
After its service ended, the Alexander Hamilton moved around. It spent time at the South Street Seaport in New York City. It was also at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Later, it was moved to Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey.
In 1977, the Alexander Hamilton was moved again. It was placed next to a Navy pier in Middletown Township. During a big storm on November 8, 1977, the ship caught fire. It then sank right next to the pier.
Design of the Steamer
The Alexander Hamilton had a special way of moving. This was called its propulsion system. It used four large Scotch marine boilers. These boilers created steam.
How the Engine Worked
The steam powered an inclined triple expansion engine. This engine turned a big rod called a crankshaft. The crankshaft was connected to paddle-wheels. These paddle-wheels were on both sides of the boat. They pushed the water to make the boat move.
Last of Its Kind
The Alexander Hamilton was very special. It was the last of the big "side-wheelers" from the Day Line. It was also the last boat of its kind to travel on the Hudson River.
