The Riverboat Discovery is a tour company in
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks is a home rule city and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska and the second largest in the state. The 2020 Census put the po ...
, which operates
sternwheel riverboats on the
Chena and
Tanana rivers.
History
The Riverboat Discovery business was founded in 1950 by Jim and Mary Binkley. The Binkleys were approached in 1950 by Alaska tourism entrepreneur
Chuck West
Chuck is a masculine given name or a nickname for Charles or Charlie. It may refer to:
People
Arts and entertainment
* Chuck Alaimo, American saxophonist, leader of the Chuck Alaimo Quartet
* Chuck Barris (1929–2017), American TV producer
* C ...
, who expressed interest in a local river tour in Fairbanks, Alaska, and asked if they could provide such a service.
[Sturgis, Ken. 1988. ''Four Generations on the Yukon''. Epicenter Press, Fairbanks, Alaska. , p. 38] Mary and Jim initially operated a small converted missionary boat, the ''Godspeed'', on tours of the rivers near Fairbanks.
The company's first sternwheeler,
Discovery I
The ''Discovery I'' is the smallest of three stern-wheel riverboats operated by the Riverboat Discovery in Fairbanks, Alaska. Built in 1955, the ''Discovery I'' is a tour vessel on the Chena and Tanana rivers.
History
''Discovery I'' was built ...
, was built by Jim Binkley in his backyard in 1955 to accommodate more passengers. Later, more riverboats were added to the Discovery fleet;
Discovery II
''Discovery II'', built in 1971, is the second of three Discovery sternwheel riverboats operated by the Riverboat Discovery company. ''Discovery II'' is still in use as a tour vessel on the Chena and Tanana rivers near Fairbanks, Alaska.
Hist ...
was converted from a freighting steamboat in 1971, and
Discovery III
''Discovery III'', built in 1987, is the third of three Discovery sternwheel riverboats operated by the Riverboat Discovery company. ''Discovery III'' is still in use as a tour vessel on the Chena and Tanana rivers near Fairbanks, Alaska.
His ...
was built in 1987 at the Nichols Brothers Boat Builders shipyard on
Whidbey Island
Whidbey Island (historical spellings Whidby, Whitbey, or Whitby) is the largest of the islands composing Island County, Washington, in the United States, and the largest island in Washington State. (The other large island is Camano Island, ...
near
Seattle, Washington
Seattle ( ) is a port, seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the county seat, seat of King County, Washington, King County, Washington (state), Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in bo ...
.
Timeline
1898: Charles M. Binkley comes to Alaska during the Gold Rush, builds boats on the Yukon River.
1940: Jim Binkley goes to work as a deckhand on the ''Idler'', a 62-foot sternwheel riverboat.
1942-1945: Jim Binkley is employed by the Army running freighting riverboats on Alaska's rivers.
1950: Jim and Mary Binkley start a tour business on the Chena and Tanana rivers using the ''Godspeed'', a converted missionary boat.
1955: Jim Binkley builds the ''Discovery I'' in his Fairbanks backyard; ''Discovery I''goes into immediate passenger service.
1956-1960:
The ''Discovery I'' is renovated during the winter months to accommodate more passengers.
1971: The ''Discovery II'' is built on the hull of the freighter ''Yutana''. ''Discovery II'' takes over as the Riverboat Discovery's primary tour vessel.
1986-1987: The ''Discovery III'' is built in Whidbey Island, Washington. ''Discovery III'' goes into passenger service on July 4, 1987, taking over from ''Discovery II'' as the company's primary tour vessel.
2000: The ''Discovery II'' resumes passenger service after being mothballed for approximately 10 years for renovations.
2004: The ''Discovery I'' resumes light-duty operation as a vessel for special tours and charters.
Present-day operations
As of 2022, all three Discovery sternwheelers are still in operation. The Riverboat Discovery operates daily tours and occasional charters with the sternwheelers from mid-May until mid-September. In addition to the sternwheelers, the company also operates a sizeable gift shop and dining hall at the landing from which the boats depart.
Current fleet
External links
Riverboat Discoveryofficial website
Notes
{{reflist
Fairbanks, Alaska
Paddle steamers