Coal from Propeller Indiana

Description:

The abundance of timber along the shores of the Great Lakes gave steamboats a ready supply of fuel. Partly burned logs from Indiana's boiler grate indicate that the boiler had been stoked just before the steamboat sank.

Pound for pound, coal provides more energy than wood. Coal was found in the vicinity of the boiler in the hold, and historical sources indicate that it was a common fuel on upbound (northerly) voyages, while wood was the principal downbound fuel.

Associated Place: Great Lakes

Related Event: Expansion and Reform

Subject:

See more items in: Work and Industry: Maritime, Cultures & Communities, Work, Energy & Power, Industry & Manufacturing, Transportation, On the Water exhibit

Exhibition: On the Water

Exhibition Location: National Museum of American History

Related Web Publication: http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthewater

Related Publication: On the Water online exhibition

Credit Line: Gift of Michigan Department of State, Michigan History Division (through Bruce J. Andrews)

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1979.1030.07Accession Number: 1979.1030

Object Name: coal

Physical Description: coal (overall material)Measurements: overall: 3 1/4 in; 8.255 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a9-db0c-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1155708

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