[Keith Norrington]

Work has begun this week on the new visitors entrance (with ramp) at the rear of the Howard Steamboat Museum. The enclosed back porch is also being renovated to become the reception area and gift shop. The kitchen (currently the gift shop) will be restored to look somewhat as it did prior to the 1971 fire. A new, educational and fun exhibit on the back porch will be a mock pilothouse, utilizing the large double circle pilotwheel (placed in a slot cut into the floor) from the steam towboat NORTHERN, bell cords, functional engineroom bells, etc. Various artifacts formerly exhibited in this part of the mansion will move upstairs to new places, including the large wooden eagle from the steamboat BELLE OF CALHOUN, models of the SPRAGUE and BRYANT'S SHOWBOAT, as well as the whistle and 8' pilotwheel from the ED J. HOWARD. So, if you visit the museum in the near future, please pardon our dust!