1950s W.P. Snyder Jr. Sternwheel Steam Towboat

Step back to the golden age of America’s inland waterways with this vintage postcard featuring the W.P. Snyder Jr., one of the last steam-powered sternwheel towboats to navigate the Ohio River. Built in 1918 by James Rees & Sons in Pittsburgh, the vessel originally served as the W.H. Clingerman, later renamed the J.L. Perry, before taking its final name in honor of the chairman of the Crucible Steel Company of America.

This 175-foot, 342-ton towboat spent 37 years hauling barges of coal, iron ore, and steel, embodying the hardworking spirit of the steamboat era. The postcard captures the Snyder moored on the Muskingum River in Marietta, Ohio, where it now serves as a public museum and National Historic Landmark. Visitors can board the vessel to explore its steel hull, wooden superstructure, and historic design features reminiscent of the famous Mark Twain-era riverboats.

Published under the sponsorship of the Washington County Historical Society and photographed by Floyd Hivnor, this postcard preserves a striking image of the last intact steam-powered sternwheel towboat in the United States, offering a tangible connection to America’s industrial and transportation heritage.

This postcard would look great framed or make an excellent addition to any collection.

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