Lone Star, Museum ship in Le Claire, US
Lone Star is a tugboat that now operates as a floating museum along the Mississippi River in Le Claire, offering visitors a look inside a working river vessel. The ship displays original machinery, crew quarters, and navigation equipment that reveal how commercial river transport operated.
Built in the early 1900s, this vessel worked as a pusher tugboat moving barges down the Mississippi River for commercial freight operations. Its engineering and role in river commerce earned it recognition as a historic landmark.
The vessel tells the story of river workers and their labor on the Mississippi, showing how crews lived and worked together in tight quarters. Visitors can observe the practical skills and daily routines that kept commercial river traffic moving.
The vessel sits right at the riverfront and is easy to find and board for exploring. Most areas are open to visitors, but be aware that stairs can be narrow and interior passages feel compact.
The vessel kept its original steam engines, so visitors can see exactly how power plants looked and operated during that era. Seeing these massive metal structures gives you a real sense of the raw force that moved these vessels.
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