George M. Verity (towboat)

Infobox_nrhp | name =GEORGE M. VERITY (Towboat)
nrhp_type =nhl


caption =
location= Keokuk, Iowa
lat_degrees = 40
lat_minutes = 23
lat_seconds = 35.47
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 91
long_minutes = 22
long_seconds = 20.98
long_direction = W
locmapin = Iowa
area =
built =1927
architect= Dubuque Boat & Boiler Works
architecture=
designated= December 29, 1989cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=2084&ResourceType=Structure
title=GEORGE M. VERITY (Towboat) |accessdate=2007-10-08|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service]
added = December 20, 1989cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]
governing_body = Local
refnum=89002459

"George M. Verity" is a towboat now located in Keokuk, Iowa. It is significant for being one of only three steam-powered towboats in existence.

It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989.citation|title=PDFlink| [http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/89002459.pdf National Register of Historic Places Registration: Geo. M. Verity / ex S.S. Thorpe] |607 KB|date=July 10, 1989 |author=Kevin J. Foster |publisher=National Park Service. PDFlink| [http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Photos/89002459.pdf Accompanying 5 photos, exterior and interior, from 1948, 1955, 1961 and 1988.] |1.04 MB]

George M. Verity is a towboat now located in Keokuk, Iowa. It is significant for being one of only three steam-powered towboats in existence in the United States.

Built in 1927 at Dubuque, Iowa by the U. S. Government, the S.S. Thorpe inaugurated barge service on the upper Mississippi . The first of four steamboats built for the revival of river transportation, it was the first to move barges from St. Louis north to St. Paul. It remained in service there until 1940, when it was sold to Armco Steel Corp. and put in service on the Ohio River. Armco renamed it the George M. Verity after their founder.

In 1960 the Verity was retired after 33 years of service on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, and on 1961, the boat was given to the City of Keokuk for use as a river museum.

Now berthed in Victory Park, it houses a museum of Upper Mississippi River history, and is open daily 9:00 AM--5:00 PM, April to November.

It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989

References