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WHERE PEACEFUL WATERS FLOW
30" X 48" Oil Painting
Video
Steamboat METAMORA on the Oklawaha River, 1900.
At the turn of the nineteenth century, times were good along the rivers of Florida. Steam driven river craft like the METAMORA wound the bends of the Oklawaha River from Palatka to Silver Springs, bringing freight and visitors from the northern states.
Florida was known worldwide as a haven for sport fishing and hunting. These early tourists also benefitted from the warm climate that offered comfort and healing. Those who lived along the banks and labored hard for their simple livelihood could always count on a few fresh pan fish from the river for dinner and flowering blooms from the water plants to dress up the table of their little cabins.
The METAMORA, outfitted with her stateroom accommodations, offered sightseeing, fishing, and fowling from her decks. At night, the craft cruised the narrow river with blazing "lighter pine" logs burning in a pan on the roof of the wheelhouse, casting a dramatic light ahead of their course.
However, the METAMORA was destined to a sad fate. She was the only steamer on the rivers to suffer a crash that involved casualties. One night, she hit an underwater snag that caused her to sink, drowning two deckhands sleeping in the rope locker.
But for the most part, life on the river and the gentle motion of the steamboat traffic made Florida a place of tranquil wonders for both visitors as well as those who made their homes here.
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