The Steamer Sprague

The Sprague built at Dubuque, Iowa's Iowa Iron Works in 1901 by Captain Peter Sprague for the Monongahela River Consolidated Coal and Coke Company, was the world's largest steam powered sternwheeler towboat. She was nicknamed Big Mama, and was capable of pushing 56 coal barges at once. In 1907 Sprague set a world's all-time record for towing: 60 barges of coal, weighing 67,307 tons, covering an area of 6 1/2 acres and measuring 925 feet (282 m) by 312 feet (95 m).

Subject Photograph Collection, The Filson Historical Society

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