|
Millersburg Ferry
The Millersburg Ferry, the
last surviving ferry which crosses the Susquehanna River, and the
last wooden-stern wheel ferry operating within the United States,
operates out of Millersburg, which sits on the east side of the
river. According to a sign posted at the ferry dock, a ferry has
operated here since 1825. The original ferries were poled
across the river. Paddle-wheel boats went into operation in
1873.
The current ferries are wooden-stern
paddle-wheelers which can carry up to four automobiles. The
one-mile crossing goes to a point on the west side of the
Susquehanna, in a campground near the point where Pennsylvania
State Route 34 meets U.S. Route 11 & U.S. Route 15, and near
Liverpool. The ferry boats were officially listed on the
National Register of Historic Places in 2006.
The river at this location is very wide
(approximately 1 mile) but is typically very shallow, sometimes
only two feet deep. The ferry follows a course across the
river near a submerged man-made wall composed of river rocks and
debris which provides slightly deeper clearance and prevents the
ferry from grounding-out.
Park Listings
Contact
Millersburg Borough: (717) 692-2389
Myo Park
Lenkerville; 2 picnic pavilions; and Restrooms
River Front Park
River
Street, Millersburg; Picnic tables; View of Susquehanna River; and
View of Ferry Boat operations
Seal Park
North Street,
Millersburg; Kid's play area; 3 picnic pavilions; and Restrooms
Wiconisco Creek Park
Route
209, Rife (East of Millersburg); Kid's play area; 1 picnic
pavilion; Hiking trail; and Restrooms. Contact Dauphin County Park
& Recreation Department: (717) 599-5188
|
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation
License.