William M. Black (dredge)
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
|+William M. Black {{Infobox ship image |Ship image=image:william m black dredge.jpg |Ship caption= }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=United States |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United States Army}} {{shipboxflag|United States}} |Ship name=William M. Black |Ship owner=*US Army Corps of Engineers
|Ship operator= |Ship registry= |Ship route= |Ship ordered= |Ship builder=Marietta Manufacturing Co. |Ship original cost= |Ship yard number= |Ship way number= |Ship laid down= |Ship launched=1934 |Ship completed= |Ship christened= |Ship acquired= |Ship maiden voyage= |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship identification= |Ship fate= |Ship status=Museum ship |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class= |Ship type=Dustpan dredge |Ship tonnage= |Ship displacement= |Ship length={{convert|277|ft|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|85|ft|abbr=on}} |Ship height= |Ship draught= |Ship draft= |Ship depth={{convert|8|ft|6|in|abbr=on}} |Ship decks= |Ship deck clearance= |Ship ramps= |Ship ice class= |Ship sail plan= |Ship power=*2 × {{convert|600|hp|abbr=on}} reciprocating steam engines
|Ship propulsion=Sidewheels |Ship speed= |Ship capacity= |Ship crew=49 |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox nrhp |embed=yes |name=William M. Black (dredge) |nrhp_type=nhl |image= |caption= |location=Third Street at the Ice Harbor, Dubuque, Iowa |coordinates = {{coord|42|29|44|N|90|39|44|W|display=inline,title}} |locmapin=Iowa |map_width=300 |area= |built=1934 |architect=Marietta Manufacturing Co. |architecture= |designated_nrhp_type=27 April 1992{{cite web |url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1847&ResourceType=Structure |title=William M. Black (Dredge) |access-date=2007-10-10 |work=National Historic Landmarks Program |publisher=National Park Service }} |added=12 April 1982{{NRISref|2007a}} |refnum=82002618 }} |
William M. Black is a steam-propelled, sidewheel dustpan dredge, named for William Murray Black, now serving as a museum ship in the harbor of Dubuque, Iowa. Built in 1934, she is one of a small number of surviving steam-powered dredges, and one of four surviving United States Army Corps of Engineers dredges. She was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1992.{{cite web|url={{NHLS url|id=82002618}}|title=Maritime Heritage of the United States NHL Theme Study-Large Vessels: William M. Black (Dredge)|format=pdf|first=Kevin J.|last=Foster|publisher=National Park Service|date=28 September 1991|access-date=2012-09-25}}
{{cite web
|url={{NHLS url|id=82002618|photos=y}}|title=Accompanying 2 photos, under construction in 1934 and as a museum vessel, undated|format=pdf|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=2012-09-25}} She is open for tours as part of the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium.
Description and history
William M. Black is located at the head of the Dubuque Harbor, where Ice Harbor Drive meets East 3rd Street. She has a riveted steel hull {{convert|277|ft|m}} long, and {{convert|85|ft|m}} wide at its widest point, including the paddleboxes for its sidewheels. Her hold is {{convert|8.5|ft|m}} deep, and she has a scow-formed bow and no keel. Her superstructure has three decks, supported by a network of steel I-beams, so that heavy equipment could be supported anywhere within her structure. The dustpan dredge is mounted in front, with winched cables on either side to hold the ship in place during dredging operations. The paddleboxes are located about 2/3 of the way down the hull. The pump that operated the dredge was located in a forward position, with its steam power plant located just aft of its position. One of the ship's paddlewheels has been removed, and is on display on the museum grounds.
According to information provided on the tour, William M. Black, one of the last paddle steamers built in the US, was used primarily along the Missouri River. She had a crew of 49 and dredged {{convert|80000|cuyd}} of material per day. She was placed out of service in 1973 because she consumed {{convert|7000|gal}} of heavy oil each day, which became prohibitively expensive during the 1973 OPEC oil embargo.{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofdubuque.org/index.aspx?NID=713 |title=William M. Black |publisher=City of Dubuque |access-date=2009-11-23}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{commons category|William M. Black (ship, 1934)}}
{{National Register of Historic Places}}
{{NRHP in Dubuque, Iowa}}
Category:National Historic Landmarks in Iowa
Category:Museums in Dubuque, Iowa
Category:National Register of Historic Places in Dubuque, Iowa
Category:Ships on the National Register of Historic Places in Iowa