When and where was the River Queen steamboat built?
The sidewheel steamer River Queen emerged from the shipyards of Keyport, New Jersey in 1864. Alfred Van Santvoord held initial ownership of the vessel as it entered service on American waterways.
The sidewheel steamer River Queen emerged from the shipyards of Keyport, New Jersey in 1864. Alfred Van Santvoord held initial ownership of the vessel as it entered service on American waterways.
On the 3rd of February 1865, the Hampton Roads Conference took place within the saloon of this floating vessel. Delegates sought to negotiate an end to the American Civil War but failed to reach agreement while the ship was lashed to another vessel named Mary Martin.
Abraham Lincoln boarded the River Queen in March 1865 to meet with General William T. Sherman and Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter. Union leadership gathered aboard to discuss military strategy for ending the war.
Capt. Nathan B. Saunders commanded the River Queen throughout its active Civil War service period. George Peter Alexander Healy later painted a famous work titled The Peacemakers depicting that historic meeting.
Newspapers reported the burning of the River Queen to the water's edge following an explosion of a signal lantern on board in July 1911. The fire destroyed the ship completely after decades of service spanning multiple owners and routes.