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 that included a woman named Judith Bennett. In the early 1700s, she had three husbands, each of whom operated the boat that she ran by herself when she was between spouses.
At that time, the little vessel was propelled by a 14-foot oar attached to its stern. Over the years that 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 craft makes the 10-minute river crossing that carries passengers and vehicles between April and November, giving those onboard opportunities to spot dolphins, turtles and eagles.
For as long as humans have been building boats, some have been used to transport people and products from one side of waterways to the other. A number of these routes in the United States provide glimpses of iconic sites, offer encounters with wildlife or have other claims to fame that make a mini-voyage worthwhile.
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.
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, and it offers 24-7 food and beverages from its snack bar. Then 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 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 it has been designated as a National Historic Landmark by the Department of Interior.
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 antebellum 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 gaslit 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, dolphins and a virtual aviary of sea birds.
Wildlife also greets those aboard other waterborne people and vehicle carriers. Passengers on the Block Island Ferry in Rhode Island might see whales, seals and dolphins. Dolphins, sharks and orcas (killer whales) also 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.
