| THE GATEWAY CLIPPER FLEET STORY
The year 2008 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Gateway
Clipper Fleet. A symbol of Pittsburgh's river renaissance,
it has grown from a one boat, 100 passenger operation
to the five boat, 2,500 passenger
fleet of today. Sailing
from the Southern Bank of the Monongahela River at Historic
Station Square, the
Gateway Clipper Fleet sails all
year and offers a wide variety of dining, sightseeing,
and entertainment
cruises.
In 2008, the Gateway Clipper Fleet will be sailing
the beautiful and picturesque three rivers. The clean,
blue waters are framed by lush foliage and award-winning
architecture that make our city one of the most
scenic
in the United States. However, for the first half of
the 20th century, the three rivers were not a pretty
sight. Pittsburgh, the "Steel City", was known
for producing tons of steel year after year. While Pittsburgh's
steel industry played a pivotal role in the development
of the United States, it also played a role in polluting
our rivers. The once beautiful rivers were now filthy.
Something had to be done to restore the three rivers
to their natural beauty.
The 1950s focused new attention on our polluted rivers.
In 1955, John E. Connelly was appointed treasurer
of
ALCOSAN. It was the purpose of this agency to cleanse
the polluted rivers and make them an attractive
part
of Pittsburgh.
John Connelly was a man of vision. He saw the potential
of the rivers. "These rivers are the lifeblood
of
the city," Mr. Connelly said. The three rivers
had finally found their champion.
Mr. Connelly realized what the three rivers needed
was an excursion boat to show off our revitalized city
and rivers. He enlisted his nephew, Captain Jack Goessling,
to help him search for the perfect boat. Captain Jack
found a boat in Erie, Pennsylvania - a fishing boat
named the "Bridget Ann". Excited about the
prospect
of purchasing this boat in Erie, Connelly jumped
in the car with Goessling in such a hurry that he forgot
to
bring money or even a check! Mr. Connelly and the
owner haggled over the price of the vessel. At a stalemate
in negotiations, John Connelly suggested a coin toss
to decide the price. John Connelly lost. He agreed to
pay the asking price, gave the man all the money he
had in his pocket - $50- for a down payment, and left
Erie a boat owner.
Now came the true task - getting a riverboat from Lake
Erie to Pittsburgh. The trip from Erie would take four
weeks of sailing day and night. Goessling began the
journey in April, 1958, sailing over 2,200 miles from
Lake Erie to the Detroit River, across Lake St. Clair
to Lake Huron, through the Straits of Mackinak to the
Illinois River and then to the mighty Mississippi, and,
finally, the last leg - sailing downstream to the Ohio
River and then all the way up river to the Port of Pittsburgh
on May 16, 1958. On May 17, 1958 the "Gateway Clipper"
sailed from the Monongahela Wharf with the local YMCA
aboard the first chartered pleasure
cruise on the three
rivers.
The "Gateway Clipper" was a success from
start. It sailed for four months that maiden season
and toured the three rivers with over 25,000 passengers.
It became known as the city's official sightseeing boat.
In 1959,
two more 100 passenger boats were added - "Gateway
Clipper II" and the "Good Ship Lollipop".
Through
the years more than 20 boats have been members
of the fleet - not only did the fleet grow, but so did
its popularity.
Today, the Gateway Clipper Fleet is located at Historic
Station Square having moved there in 1982. Under
the
leadership of Terry Wirginis, Mr. Connelly's grandson,
the Gateway Clipper Fleet is ready for the future.
"The
reason we have been so successful is that we keep changing,
adapting and adding cruises to keep up
with the needs
of our customers," said Wirginis, Gateway Clipper
Fleet President.
Presently, the Fleet is comprised of five boats and
has a total capacity of 2,500 passengers. In 1987,
Mr.
Wirginis and family christened the largest boat ever
to sail with the Fleet. This behemoth - a 277 foot,
1,000 passenger vessel designed by Mr. Wirginis, sailed
from Pensacola, Florida, where it was built, to Pittsburgh
without a name. A "Name the Boat' contest was held
and the name chosen out of 27,000 entries
is a name
now known to all Pittsburghers - the "Majestic".
Joining the flagship "Majestic" are the 600
passenger "Party Liner", 400 passenger "Liberty
Belle" and "Keystone Belle" and 150 passenger
"Good Ship Lollipop." All the riverboats of
the Fleet are authentic reproductions of the quaint
old riverboats that sailed
the rivers in days gone by.
What started as one boat sailing the three rivers offering
sightseeing tours has turned into a diversified
operation
offering dozens of different types of cruises. Employing
70 full-time employees and over 300
seasonal employees,
the Clipper Fleet sails all year long offering cruises
that appeal to the young and old.
"As far as we know, The Gateway Clipper Fleet
is the largest inland riverboat fleet in the nation
today,
says Wirginis. We are a model for the excursion
boat industry. Boat owners in many other cities look
to
us for guidance and knowledge."
The Gateway Clipper Fleet has always been an important
part of the "Pittsburgh Experience". We have
been a key element in many city and county celebrations
that showcase our beautiful river city. Our
riverboats
and crew have celebrated with the entire region after our
Steelers, Pirates and Penguins won
World Championships,
entertained world leaders that visited our city, and
even danced with mascots during
the 1994 & 2006 All-Star Games!
The Gateway Clipper Fleet is the number one attraction
in the City of Pittsburgh. During the last 50 years,
over 25 million passengers have sailed the three rivers
and beyond on one of the Fleet's riverboats.
What does the future hold for the Gateway Clipper Fleet?
"Our growth potential is only limited by our own
creativity. I think our future is filled with incredible
promise and potential", said Wirginis.
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