The River Boat
Item
Title
The River Boat
Creator
Ruby Glasser Shilliday
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1893-1958 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1893-1958 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Date
1937
Materials
oil on canvas
Measurements
31.5 x 44 in.
Description
The steam-powered sternwheel towboat, Charles T. Campbell, was built in 1936 by the Dravo Corporation at Neville Island near Pittsburgh. Although railroads had taken over passenger trade and freight traffic from most riverboats in the 1890s, sternwheelers continued to be used because of their proven reliability and low operating costs to tow coal barges on the Ohio, Monongahela, and Allegheny Rivers well into the 20th century. Sternwheels pulled or pushed coal barges linked together into trains along the rivers to distribution ports. Riverboats with diesel engines eventually replaced steam-powered sternwheelers.
Shilliday, an award-winning exhibitor in the Carnegie Institute’s Selected Pittsburgh Artists exhibitions, was best known as the Exhibition Chairman for Pittsburgh’s Garden Center at Mellon Park where she gave lectures and demonstrated flower arranging.
Shilliday, an award-winning exhibitor in the Carnegie Institute’s Selected Pittsburgh Artists exhibitions, was best known as the Exhibition Chairman for Pittsburgh’s Garden Center at Mellon Park where she gave lectures and demonstrated flower arranging.
Identifier
EMS090
Rights
These images are posted publicly for non-profit educational uses, excluding printed publication. Other uses may not be permitted. For additional information about usage rights or to request permission to use an image contact museum@ems.psu.edu