Bay Queen
8"x 16"200 In Edition

The steamer "Bay Queen", built in the 1890's in Higham, Massachusetts for use in Boston Harbor, was one of Mobile's most well known bay boats. Christened the "Higham", she went to Long Island Sound as the "Orient", before later being purchased by the Fairhope Transportation & Excursion Company. In 1902, the Orient's name was changed to the Bay Queen following her reconditioning for excursion service. A dance floor was added, and during the next twenty years she became known as the "Pride of the Bay" for her numerous moonlight crossings to the Eastern Shore. She was widely used by Mobile organizations for pleasure trips, as well as by state and national convention crowds. Aside from being one of the most noted of bay boats, the Bay Queen was also one of the largest. Of 471 tons gross, she was 167 feet long, 25 feet wide and had a capacity of over 1200 passengers. In 1921, the Bay Queen went into regular service as a ferryboat, but on the night of March 27, 1929, she burned in a spectacular fire at the foot of Eslava Street near downtown Mobile.

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