PRESCOTT – The steamboats War Eagle and Galena are docking at Prescott at 7 p.m. Friday, July 10. Thanks to steamboat historian Robert Taunt from La Crosse, who will be presenting the stories and history of these two vessels, both of which docked and passed by Prescott regularly during the mid-1800s.

The sister vessels were built near Cincinnati. The War Eagle had a 16-year career, unusual as an average steamboat only lasted 4-5 years. The Galena was not so lucky.

The Steamboat Era had Prescott right in the middle as a major port and transshipment site. At its peak, more than 900 steamboats stopped in Prescott in a season, which was only eight months long due to winter. This did not include many smaller local vessels that traveled from St. Paul and Stillwater to move passengers on due to low water above the mouth of the St. Croix. Prescott was also a major shipping point for farm products moving downriver. Pilots, engineers, deckhands, cooks, owners and more were all part of the Prescott citizenry for decades, right into the modern towboat era.

The Prescott History Center is open each weekend from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Other times can be arranged. Contact us at prescottahs@gmail.com

Submitted by Dallas Eggers