Don Henderson - Copyright 2004 Click on photos to see larger versions. Working Boats Over the years I've had a fascination for the Three Rivers here in Western Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh is one of the largest inland ports in the world and thus the home to thousands of working boats and pleasure crafts. We even have a flock of sea gulls. Millions of tons of cargo pass along our rivers. The three rivers, the Allegheny and the Monongahela meet at Pittsburgh (the confluence) to form the Mighty Ohio. Everyday, tow boats ply these rivers pushing barges full of every cargo imaginable. The tow boats are an important part of commerce throughout Western Pennsylvania and beyond. The Danger... The 3 rivers claim lives all year round. Working on the rivers is hard and very dangerous work. The tow boat crews are a rare breed of hard working skilled individuals who should be admired by us all, because without them our lives would be drastically different. Everyday they risk their lives in all kinds of weather conditions. If you have ever been to Pittsburgh in the winter time, it's not hard to imagine how bad it must be out on the rivers. The Principio The Principio (Top Man), Bob Brown Towing. For years the Principo and the Philo worked from a landing at Blawnox, PA along the Allegheny River north of Pittsburgh. The Thunderbird... The Jason, Union Barge Line, Port of Pittsburgh. The Thunderbird started out life as the Jason. After retirement she became the nightclub Thunderbird and was docked along the Allegheny River in Blawnox, PA north of Pittsburgh. The Rocket... The Rocket worked out of New Kensington, PA for years at Davidson Sand and Gravel, a dredging operation on the Allegheny River. The Sarah... The Sarah, Mon River Towing, Belle Vernon, PA, Port of Pittsburgh. The Sarah is owned by the Guttman Group. The American Queen... The American Queen, The Delta Queen Steamboat Co., Port of New Orleans. She is the ultimate riverboat. Big and modern, she is a real class act. It's always a thrill to see a boat this big visit Pittsburgh. When these boats come to town not only does it give us a small glimps of the past but The Mississippi Queen Mississippi Queen, The Delta Queen Steamboat Co., Port of New Orleans. The American Queen, the Mississippi Queen and the Delta Queen are the jewels of the river. These boats are big attractions and always draw a crowd. I really envy the passengers on these boats, maybe someday... The Gateway Clipper Fleet The Gateway Clipper Fleet, Port of Pittsburgh. One of the most popular tourist attractions in Pittsburgh for both locals and out of towners is the Gateway clipper fleet on the southside of Pittsburgh along the Monongahela River. Although they are excursion boats, nobody can dispute that they are work boats, but their cargo is fun. About me... I'm a Pittsburgh artist and have never worked on the rivers, but almost all my life I have lived near the Allegheny River and have a deep respect for the rivers and the people who make their living on them. Everyday we see these tow boats and barges as we race along the highways and accross bridges and never give much thought to their importance to our way of life. Admittedly the photos on this site are not of the highest quality, but I hope in some small way this simple web site underlines the importance of the tow boat to our very existance. If you have comments, questions or would like to submit photos or information to this site, please E-Mail me and I'll be happy to add them to the site. Thanks for stopping by. Don Henderson LINKS Henderson Web Design