W.P. SNYDER, JR. (steamboat)
Also known as: W.h. Clingerman; W.P. Snyder,Jr.,State Memorial; J.l. Perry; A-
Why it's listed
Moored on the Muskingum River at Marietta, the W. P. Snyder, Jr. is a coal-fired steam sternwheeler launched in 1918 as the W. H. Clingerman. She measures 175 feet long and 32.3 feet wide, with a 21-foot paddle wheel and two sets of compound engines producing 750 horsepower. Built as a 'poolboat' with the pilothouse set forward on the second deck, she could pass under low bridges on the Monongahela River, where she pushed coal barges from upstream mines and occasionally steel tows as far as Memphis. Later renamed J. L. Perry and A-1, she took her present name after Crucible Steel Company bought her in 1945. The company gave her to the State of Ohio in 1955, and she steamed to Marietta for the presentation. Built during the shift from wood to steel, she retains hog chains, a pilot wheel, bell signals and stateroom construction typical of earlier river steamers. She is one of the last of her kind and is open to visitors.
Significance in brief: The boat was built when steamboat construction was shifting from wood to steel, yet it keeps many features of nineteenth-century wooden river steamers. It is described as one of the last steam sternwheelers to work the inland waterways. It is significant in the areas of industry, commerce and transportation.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 70000522, listed November 10, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | On Muskingum River at Sacra Via, Marietta |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | November 10, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000522 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1918 |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Engineering, Transportation, Maritime History |
| Level of significance | National, State |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated June 29, 1989 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the State of Ohio, open to the public through The Ohio Historical Society, and described as complete in every detail; plans were underway to make it part of a new Ohio River Museum. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Marietta Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 39.42032, -81.46339 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 70000522.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7945874
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.