Since the 1850s when coal-fired reciprocating steam engines were first heralded as a reliable means of powering ships, these majestic vessels have crisscrossed the Great Lakes transporting everything from coal and grain to iron ore and cement. The speed and efficiency of the lake freighters was unchallenged until the advent of the diesel locomotive engine. Today, however, the massive fleet has been reduced to a handful, and soon the Great Lakes steamboats may be extinct. From freighters in motion and intricate machinery in the engine room, to the glow of the firehold and the action of the men who operate and maintain the vessels, these images are an evocative testament to the Age of Steam and a rich archival slice of our industrial past.
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