Yellowstone

[f706]

Has anyone any information on the sidewheeler "yellowstone".  Anything would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Eddy Matthews]

It's not a boat I know anything about Dan, apart from the fact that it was launched in 1830. I did find the painting below after doing a quick search on Google...

[Eddy Matthews]

After searching a bit more I've found the following info....

Launched: 1830
Owned by: American Fur Co.
Ran on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.  In 1832, Was first steamboat to reach Fort Union on U. Mo. R. Ran aground on a sandbar in 1833.

It's not much, but it might help?

[f706]

Eddy:

thanks for your help.  I was not able to view the photo you mentioned.  I'll keep looking.  I have been asked to build her if I can get enough info.  I know that the American Fur Co. added several "similar" boats during the 1830's.  But she is also mentioned in connection to the Texas war for independence.  

Thanks again, I'll check back

Dan

[Eddy Matthews]

Eddy:
thanks for your help.  I was not able to view the photo you mentioned.
 

To view photos on the forum you must setup your browser to allow popups on the Paddleducks website Dan. If you have them blocked you won't see anything! :-(

[PJ]

Here is some info I found:

It was in 1831, also, that the American Fur Company boat, the Yellowstone, began making annual trips to the upper Missouri River country. H.M. Chittenden, in his classic study of The American Fur Trade of the Far West, says, "in several respects the voyage of the Yellowstone in 1832 has been a landmark in the history of the West. It demonstrated the practicability of navigating the Missouri by steam as far as to the mouth of the Yellowstone with a strong probability that boats could go on to the Blackfoot country." Among the passengers on this voyage was the soon to be famous artist George Catlin who made a valuable written and artistic record of the Indian tribes living along the upper Missouri. An excellent book on the voyages of the Yellowstone is Donald Jackson’s Voyages of the Steamboat Yellow Stone (University of Oklahoma Press, 1985).

Two fur company boats went up the Missouri River in the spring of 1833, the Yellowstone and a new boat, the Assiniboine. On the Yellowstone was Prince Maximilian and his Swiss artist companion, Karl Bodmer, who made another one of the truly important early records, both in words and in images of the Missouri River and the people who lived along it. Also on this 1833 trip serving as clerk on the boat, was 18 year old Joseph LaBarge, destined to become one of the truly legendary Missouri River pilots.

"Voyages of the Steamboat Yellowstone" (ISBN: 0899193064) by Donald Jackson comes up from time to time on Ebay and there are plenty of copies available through Abebooks and bookfinder.com.  I have no idea what images of the vessel, if any, are in this book, but you could contact one of the sellers to find out prior to purchasing a copy.

You should also try contacting:
The Boonslick Historical Society
P.O. Box 324
Boonville, MO 65233
(660) 882-6370

Apparently Karl Bodmer the Swiss artist painted some pictures of the "Yellowstone" which is worth researching

Your research would include include early navigation of the Missouri River, The American Fur company and historical societies along the river's course who might well point you to images.  Plans could be hard to find but you might start with the Smithsonian, although I was unable to find an online mention of this vessel.  Unfortunately my extensive reference and bibliographic database along with image files and all website links to American Steamboats were recently lost in a catastrophic hard drive failure.  

PJ
Victoria, BC Canada

[f706]

PJ:

Thank you for your generous post.  I just delivered a model of the Far West in 1/4 scale to the customer who is asking about the Yellowstone.  My wife threatened me if I took on another commission before I painted her front room and remodeled the bathroom and kitchen, but this project gets more interesting the more I study.   I'll certainly check out the possible sources you list.  Thanks again, and sorry to hear about your hard drive disaster.  Likely a big loss for many, including, possibly, me.

Dan

[PJ]

You're very welcome, Dan..do you have any photos of your "Far West"?

[f706]

PJ,

The photo under my "handle" is my Far West.  She was my first go at a paddlewheeler.  I usually build sailing ships.  I was in the middle of building the HMS Atalanta with David Antscherl's "Swan Practicum" when I was hired to build Far West.  The challenges are amazingly different.  I don't find the flat bottoms as good looking as the deep water sailers, but I had a lot of fun anyway.  I wouldn't be opposed to building the Yellowstone if I could get some half-decent reference material.

[Swordfish]

Hi Dan:

There is quite a bit of background information as well as a bow view photo if you Google "Fort Clark Trading Post North Dakota". Good luck in your research.

Best regards, Swordfish