Take a ferry on your travels.
For as long as humans have been building boats, they been used to transport people from one side of waterways to the other. Some provide glimpses of iconic sites and offer encounters with wildlife.
In 1683, Talbot County, Maryland authorized establishment of a ferry service for “Horses and Men” across the Tred Avon River connecting the tiny towns of Oxford and Bellevue. A man named Richard Royston was given 2,500 pounds of tobacco a year, worth about $25, to operate the ferry.
Three years later, Royston was convicted of forgery and received a public whipping. He was followed by a series of other ferry captains including a woman named Judith Bennett. In the early 1700s shehad three husbands, each of whom operated the boat which she then ran by herself “when between husbands.”
At that time, the little vessel was propelled by a fourteen-foot oar attached to its stern. Over the years, it was replaced first by sails, then coal-created steam and finally by a gasoline fueled engine.
The Oxford-Bellevue continues to operate as the oldest privately owned ferry in the country. The little vessel makes the 10-minute river crossing carrying passengers and vehicles between April and November, giving those on-board opportunities to spot dolphin, turtles and eagles.
Ferry boats pass iconic sites, encounter wildlife and offer other welcome surprises
The San Francisco Bay Ferry, actually a group of several boats that follow different routes, has two reasons to boast. One of its vessels is participating in a demonstration of the use of hydrogen fuel cell technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. In addition, members of the fleet offer unbeatable views of San Francisco, the Bay Area’s picturesque islands and the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge.
Some ferry boats mimic ocean going cruise ships
There are good reasons why the Staten Island Ferry, which originated in 1817 and shuttles some 2 million passengers each year between Lower Manhattan and Staten Island, is known as “the poor man’s cruise.” For starters, it’s free. It offers 24/7 food and beverages from its snack bar. Add to that spectacular views of Manhattan’s towering skyline, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
The S.S. Badger Ferry which sails across Lake Michigan dubs itself as a “mini-cruise.” Among amenities that are found on many an ocean-going ship are staterooms, outdoor decks furnished with comfortable lounge chairs and a Bloody Mary bar. The large watercraft is the last coal-fired passenger steamship in operation in the United States and has been designated as a National Historic Landmark by the Department of Interior.
Pages of history are turned during some ferry boat rides
Pages of history also are revealed to people following other routes. The Canal Street Ferry, which crosses the Mississippi River where it flows past New Orleans, passes gracious plantations and other ante bellum sites that line the riverbank. In operation since 1827, the ferry itself fits well into the story of days past.
Cape May is famous for its collection of ornate Victorian mansions and gas-lit cobblestone streets over which horses pulling carriages clip-clop. It’s one terminal of the Cape May-Lewis Ferry which links those New Jersey and Delaware towns. En route, the boat passes striking lighthouses and charming harbors. Adding to the appeal are possible sightings of whales, dolphin and a virtual aviary of sea birds.
Ferry boats provide close-up encounters with wildlife
Wildlife also greets those aboard other waterborne people and vehicle carriers. People on the Block Island Ferry in Rhode Island may see whales, seals and dolphins. Dolphins, sharks and orcas (killer whales) frequent the waters through which the Galveston-Port Bolivar Ferry in Texas plies.
Marine life thriving on tropical coral reefs awaits viewing by passengers on the Key West Ferry to the Dry Tortugas, the unusually named group of islands at the end of the Florda Keys. The route passes by Fort Jefferson, the largest brick masonry structure in the country which was built shortly before the Civil War.
From a fort to a coal-fired steamship, from views of magnificent scenery to historic highlights, a ferry boat can offer much more than just a way to get from here to there. Given how many are located around the country, opportunities may await to enjoy this type of sightseeing close to where you live and certainly as you travel.
Victor Block
Victor Block retains the travel bug after gallivanting throughout the United States and to more than 75 other countries worldwide and writing about what he sees, does, and learns. He believes travel is the best possible education and claims he still has much to learn. He loves to explore new destinations and cultures, and his stories about them have won many writing awards.
