Tuckahoe River Trip - Captain C.C. Wheeler Passage
Minnie Wheeler Serves the Tuckahoe

The steamer Minnie Wheeler (photo below) was launched in Baltimore in May 1881. She was the Wheeler Line vessel best remembered by Tuckahoe residents.

Minnie Wheeler was 124 feet in length, 24 foot beam, 260 tons, and 8 foot draft.  She carried a crew of 24 an up to 96 passengers, accomodated like this: 

  • 42 first-class passengers in staterooms that flanked a central saloon;
  • 54 deck passengers; the favorite spot on deck in cold winter months was the platform above the boiler, which could hold up to 20 watermen, who sometimes fought for position there.
  • Men’s cabin forward of the saloon, with settees, chairs, and coal stove;
  • Women’s cabin aft of the saloon with berths for 18;
  • Separate cabin aft of the main deck for non-white passengers.

      Below the main deck, staterooms, and pilot house, Minnie Wheeler could carry 5500 bushels of grain in her cargo hold.