On this day, in 1971, the Liberty Belle Riverboat attraction began operating in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Opening a day after the rest of the Magic Kingdom, the original boat was named the Admiral Joe Fowler, after the man who was in charge of construction for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. The ride is very similar to the one in Disneyland. The boat takes a trip down the Rivers of America, looping around Tom Sawyer Island. It offers a unique view of the Haunted Mansion as well.
A second boat was put into service in May 1973. The new boat was named the Richard F. Irvine and was named after an Imagineer. The two boats operated together until 1980, the main difference between them being the Fowler had two smokestacks while the Irvine only had one. When the Admiral Joe Fowler was being moved to dry dock for refurbishment, the crane operator accidentally dropped it, completely destroying its hull. Management took a moment, decided that they didn't really need two riverboats and scrapped the remains. The only surviving parts are the Fowler's whistle, which was transplanted into the Roy O. Disney locomotive on the Walt Disney World Railroad, and its engine, which was transplanted into Mark Twain Riverboat at Tokyo Disneyland.
In 1996, the Richard F. Irvine was completely overhauled and renamed The Liberty Belle. That is the boat that is still in operation today. Okay, not today as the ride is currently undergoing another refurbishment, but you know what I mean. For those observant folks who are tempted to say "But I just rode the Admiral Joe Fowler last week," you are correct. In 1997, two of the ferry boats that transport guests between the Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center were renamed the Admiral Joe Fowler and the Richard F. Irvine.
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