A familiar name is back on the St. Louis riverfront. After nearly 40 years, the Becky Thatcher has officially returned at the steps of the Gateway Arch, marking the first new riverboat to join the St. Louis riverfront since 1987.
The replica 19th-century paddlewheel riverboat will soon join the Tom Sawyer as the second vessel in the Bi-State Development’s Riverboats at the Gateway Arch fleet. Its arrival expands the riverboat tours in Downtown St. Louis and gives visitors another way to experience the Mississippi River.
“Riverboats have been part of St. Louis’ story for generations,” said Taulby Roach, president and CEO of Bi-State Development, in a recent press release. “Welcoming the Becky Thatcher to join the Tom Sawyer allows us to honor that rich history while creating even more opportunities for guests to experience the river that helped shape our region.”
Previously known as the Capt. JP, the vessel now known as the Becky Thatcher was built in 1987 and purchased from Fort Myers, Florida, for $549,500 following a national search by Bi-State Development. It is approximately 31% larger than the 1963 riverboat that previously carried the Becky Thatcher name. But before making its way north, the boat underwent an extensive transformation. Bi-State Development invested $3.2 million in repairs and renovations at a shipyard near Mobile, Alabama, under the oversight of the United States Coast Guard. The work was designed to enhance the guest experience, improve safety, and extend the vessel’s longevity while modernizing its operations.
Photo courtesy Bi-State Development
Among the upgrades were extensive steel replacement on the hull to create a watertight, seaworthy vessel; a comprehensive overhaul of the steering, mechanical and electrical systems; and all-new interior decor and high-efficiency HVAC units. The Becky Thatcher then embarked on a roughly 10-day journey from the Gulf Coast to St. Louis. “Working in a major shipbuilding hub like Mobile provided a one-stop solution for making all of the necessary repairs and upgrades to bring this vessel up to our high standards,” said Roach.
Its route carried it through Mobile Bay and the Mobile River, the Tombigbee River, and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, including its 10-lock system. From there, it traveled through the Tennessee River, Kentucky Lake, and the Ohio River before finally entering the Mississippi.
Before welcoming its first passengers, the Becky Thatcher will spend the next couple of weeks completing Coast Guard certifications and staff safety training. Once it begins cruises, the new vessel will offer visitors another vantage point from which to take in Downtown St. Louis and its riverfront, continuing a tradition that Bi-State Development has carried on the Mississippi for 25 years.
For announcements and more information on Becky Thatcher’s inaugural cruise, visit BeckySTL.com.
Photo courtesy Bi-State Development