Name William M. Black Type Dustpan dredge Launched 1934 Year built 1934 | Status Museum ship Beam 85 ft (26 m) Length 84 m Added to NRHP 12 April 1982 | |
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Owner US Army Corps of Engineers
Woodward River Museum
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium Builder Marietta Manufacturing Co. Address Ice Harbor Drive, Dubuque, IA 52001, USA Similar National Mississippi River Mu, Shot Tower, Dubuque County Jail, Mathias Ham House, Washington Mill Bridge | ||
William M. Black is a steam-propelled, sidewheel dustpan dredge, now serving as a museum ship in the harbor of Dubuque, Iowa. Built in 1934, she is one of a small number of surviving steam-powered dredges, and one of four surviving United States Army Corps of Engineers dredges. She was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1992. She is open for tours as part of the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium.
Description and history
William M. Black is located at the head of the Dubuque Harbor, where Ice Harbor Drive meets East 1st Street. She has a riveted steel hull 277 feet (84 m) long, and 85 feet (26 m) wide at its widest point, including the paddleboxes for its sidewheels. Her hold is 8.5 feet (2.6 m) deep, and she has a scow-formed bow and no keel. Her superstructure has three decks, supported by a network of steel I-beams, so that heavy equipment could be supported anywhere within her structure. The dustpan dredge is mounted in front, with winched cables on either side to hold the ship in place during dredging operations. The paddleboxes are located about 2/3 of the way down the hull. The pump that operated the dredge was located in a forward position, with its steam power plant located just aft of its position. One of the ship's paddlewheels has been removed, and is on display on the museum grounds.
According to information provided on the tour, William M. Black, one of the last paddle steamers built in the US, was used primarily along the Missouri River. She had a crew of 49 and dredged 80,000 cubic yards (61,000 m3) of material per day. She was placed out of service in 1973 because she consumed 7,000 US gallons (26,000 l; 5,800 imp gal) of heavy oil each day, which became prohibitively expensive during the 1973 OPEC oil embargo.