Architectural blueprint for the tugboat "Hercules" that was built by the Twin City Rapid Transit Company in 1917. The vessel was scuttled to the bottom of Lake Minnetonka in 1926.
Three part set of architectural blueprints for the six original, 70 foot Express Boats built by the Twin City Rapid Transit Company in 1906. Designed by Wayzata boat builder Royal C. Moore, these boats were in service on Lake Minnetonka until 1926. Three of these boats (Como, Minnehaha, and White Bear) were scuttled to the bottom of Lake Minnetonka in 1926, while two others (Harriet and Stillwater) were scrapped. The "Hopkins" was sold and used as an excursion vessel until it was scuttled in 1949. The "Minnehaha" was raised in 1980, restored 1990-1996, and returned to passenger service May 25, 1996.
This steamboat seems to have stopped at a dock at the Narrows. This was the scene before the bridge was built across the Narrows. The north side of this channel is in the town of Orono, and the south side is in Tonka Bay. Printed message gives description of Lake Minnetonka, postmarked and dated 1918.
Wooden boats are pulled ashore and picnic baskets appear in this generic beach scene, with a black and white inset photo labeled Steamer Excelsior, Minnetonka. The writer mentions the large number of advertisements in the paper for fine horses for sale. The Bureau of Engraving's logos is printed on back, color added, postmarked 1910.
Entrance to Big Island Park shows the path through the grove of trees. Message says this pleasure park is 18 miles out by trolley, and that the tower, peristyle, etc., are all concrete, dated and postmarked 1909.
Visitors enjoy the shade in a grove of trees at Big Island Park, color added. Card is addressed to Hoke Smith, United States Senate, Washington, D.C., postmarked 1913. Message reads: Lithography is the working man's art. Don???t destroy American Art! Help us develop American art! Why not lithograph these in Amerika? More of these cards than ever are being lithographed abroad! I receive 25 dolls per week as a lithographer. Please don't cut this down. German lithographers get only one third of the wages Americans do.
Visitors to Big Island Park arrive and depart on steamboats such as the Saint Paul. Message describes white water lilies and mosquitoes, color added, postmarked 1909.
Two boats are at the Veterans Camp dock on Big Island. Message mentions cooking enough apples to get two quarts and one pint of lovely apple sauce for winter use, postmarked Excelsior, 1938.
A photograph of: Park General Manager Bill Clapp, owner Fred Pearce, Sr., western star William Boyd (Hopalong Cassidy), Park Superintendent Joe Colihan and unknown at the Excelsior Amusement Park.