Featured Artifact: Souvenirs from Steamboat "Bay Belle"

"Bay Belle" at Bear Mountain, circa 1970s. Donald C. Ringwald Collection, Hudson River Maritime Museum.

The Hudson River's last day passenger steamboat was "Bay Belle". Built in 1910 the "Bay Belle" operated under different names and for different companies for decades. During her time on the Hudson River "Bay Belle" carried charters from New York City to day resorts at Bear Mountain, Rye, and from Yonkers to Rockaway Beaches.. Author Richard V. Elliott writes of "Bay Belle" in his manuscript "The Boats of Summer" : "Never intended to be biggest, fastest, or most luxurious, this hard working, medium-sized steamer was a survivor that transported and entertained millions." 

Souvenir pennant from S.S. "Bay Belle". Franklin B. Roberts, Jr. Collection, Hudson River Maritime Museum.

Passenger steamboats sold souvenirs onboard such as the pennant, pin and postcard shown here. 

Souvenir pin from a trip on the S.S. "Bay Belle" Franklin B. Roberts, Jr. Collection, Hudson River Maritime Museum.

Postcard featuring the S.S. "Bay Belle" underway in New York Harbor. Franklin B. Roberts, Jr. Collection, Hudson River Maritime Museum.

Tickets were also kept as memorabilia of "Bay Belle" summer excursions.

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