The Osceola

This is the steamer Osceola, which plied the waters of the St. Johns River running passengers from Jacksonville, FL down to Palatka, and even on to Silver Springs. A very handsome ship, and ornate for the period.

Another unique thing about this boat was its size. Rather large compared to most of the steamers, and considering this had to navigate the narrow, twisting Oklawaha River to Silver River and to the Springs...

It accomplished this feat because it had a paddlewheel fully enclosed within the ship, thus making it able to avoid the logs and debris that would disable or slow a conventional style stern- or side-wheel paddleboat.

The Osceola served well into the late 1920's or early '30s and there are folks around today who can tell you how beautiful she was.

I was pleased to have won my first and only art award for this drawing of a well-known Florida steamboat, and I want to thank Mr. Ed Mueller for the opportunity to draw this fine vessel and to have it published in the books he writes.