Padelford Riverboats facts for kids

The Padelford Riverboat Company started in 1969. It's the only company offering river boat trips in the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. This area is near the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Padelford boats sail on the Mississippi River. They help people learn about the history of the area.

The company is based at Harriet Island in downtown St. Paul. William Bowell, a World War II veteran, founded it in 1969. Back then, the Mississippi River wasn't used much. Bowell and his company helped connect people with the river. This led to many good changes along the riverfront.

History of Padelford Riverboats

William Bowell, the founder, grew up near the river. He helped his dad's small business on Harriet Island. After serving in World War II, he went to college. His big dream was to pilot a boat on the Mississippi River. He worked as a museum curator and a businessman. But in 1969, he returned to the river to start Padelford Riverboats.

William Bowell loved collecting books about the river. He also gathered old photos, blueprints, and other important papers. All these items are now kept in a special library. It's called the Captain William D. Bowell, Jr. River Library. You can find it at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa.

William Bowell first bought a boat called the Jonathan Padelford. It was a type of paddle steamer. He kept adding more boats to his collection. He even made the Jonathan Padelford bigger. He cut it in half and added a 20-foot section in the middle! Eventually, the company had five boats in total. Three of them were approved by the Coast Guard.

In 2006, the company's owners sold one boat, the Harriet Bishop. They wanted to buy a new boat for overnight trips. But then the economy slowed down. The money from the sale actually helped the company stay open. It provided important funds during a tough time.

How Padelford Riverboats Operates

Captain William Bowell started the company. He retired in 2002. His family members then took over the business. These included Bill Bowell Jr, Beth Myers, Shelley Kosmo, Steve Bowell, and Jim Kosmo. Gus Gaspardo became the General Manager.

Padelford Riverboats has always operated from Harriet Island. For a while, from 1988 to 2004, they also ran trips from Boom Island in Minneapolis. This was part of a deal with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. The trips from Minneapolis stopped when they couldn't agree on a new contract.

Since 1996, Padelford has worked with many groups. These include the National Park Service and the Science Museum of Minnesota. They also partnered with the National Audubon Society and Hamline University. Together, they created a special floating classroom.

This classroom is a field trip series on a Padelford riverboat. Students learn about the environment and nature. They study aquatic life and how to protect rivers. They also learn about the region's history and culture.

Padelford also worked with the University of Minnesota. They brought back a special boat called the Minnesota Centennial Showboat. This boat had a theater with 210 seats. University students, called the Showboat Players, performed plays there. The boat returned to Harriet Island in 2002.

The University later decided to end the partnership. This was because fewer people were interested in the plays. The Showboat's last performance was in 2016. It was the same play they performed in their first season, Under the Gaslight.

In 2004, Padelford took part in the Grand Excursion. This event celebrated 150 years since the first grand excursion in 1854. Padelford offered public and private boat trips from Diamond Bluff, Wisconsin for a week. The company also joined other steamboat events in the area.

Padelford Riverboats was one of the first members of the Passenger Vehicle Association. They have been an active part of this group.

Bringing the Mississippi Riverfront Back to Life

Many years ago, factories and farms made the Mississippi River very polluted. But then, people started to care more about the river. The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area was created. More and more people began to enjoy activities on the river.

When William Bowell started Padelford, no other cruise lines were operating there. The closest one was in Iowa. The river was mostly used for shipping goods. Bowell wanted to change that. He offered fun boat trips for people. Each trip also taught about the region's history. Even today, the company is involved in many activities focused on the river.

Padelford Riverboat Fleet

Here are some of the boats that have been part of the Padelford fleet:

• The Jonathan Padelford

This boat looks like an old Mark Twain-era riverboat. It was built in 1969. It has a paddle wheel, but it runs on diesel fuel, not steam. Two years after it was built, the boat was made longer. It was cut in half, and a 20-foot section was added. This made the boat 125 feet long. It can carry 313 people. The boat is named after William Bowell's ancestor, Jonathan Padelford. He was an early settler in Minnesota.

• The Anson Northrup

This boat was added in 1988. It's a sidewheeler, meaning it has paddle wheels on its sides. It can carry 300 passengers. The Northrup started public trips on Father's Day, June 19, 1988. It is 92 feet long.

• The Betsey Northrup

In 1990, the company bought a car/truck ferry. They renamed it the Betsey Northrup. It was changed into a two-deck party boat for 300 passengers. The main deck is enclosed, and the second deck is open for great views. It is 108 feet long.

• The Viking Explorer

This boat was built in 1980. It was a mini cruise ship with 24 rooms. It could carry 34 passengers. The Viking Explorer offered cruises that went as far as Florida. It was sold in 1992.

• The Harriet Bishop

This boat is 98 feet long. It was built in 1987. It can carry 350 people for harbor cruises. For lunch and dinner cruises, it can hold 264 people.

• The Captain Frank M. Whiting

This showboat was built in 2002. It was owned by the University of Minnesota. Padelford operated it as the replacement for the original Minnesota Centennial Showboat. It could carry 499 people. It was used until 2016.