The ''Liberty Belle'' (formerly ''Richard F. Irvine'') is a steam-powered
riverboat
A riverboat is a watercraft designed for inland navigation on lakes, rivers, and artificial waterways. They are generally equipped and outfitted as work boats in one of the carrying trades, for freight or people transport, including luxury un ...
ride vehicle at
Rivers of America,
Walt Disney World
The Walt Disney World Resort, also called Walt Disney World or Disney World, is an entertainment resort complex in Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, Florida, United States, near the cities of Orlando and Kissimmee. Opened on October 1, 1971, ...
. It was the second boat ride vehicle to be introduced in this attraction and originally named after the late Disney executive
Richard F. Irvine.
It was a steam powered
sternwheeler
A paddle steamer is a steamship or steamboat powered by a steam engine that drives paddle wheels to propel the craft through the water. In antiquity, paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were w ...
replica.
History
The ''Richard F. Irvine'' Riverboat was the second riverboat to enter into service on May 20, 1973 in the Rivers of America at the ''Magic Kingdom'' park.
Its other riverboat colleague, the ''
Admiral Joe Fowler'', served from October 2, 1971, through fall 1980 when it was destroyed in a
dry dock accident.
The ''Richard F. Irvine'' was completely refurbished and returned to service in 1996 as the ''Liberty Belle'' Riverboat. The ''Liberty Belle'' underwent an extensive rehab from September 2005 to September 2006 and returned as an attraction ride vehicle in Rivers of America. In 2018, the ''Liberty Belle'' was completely overhauled with a new
boiler
A boiler is a closed vessel in which fluid (generally water) is heated. The fluid does not necessarily boil. The heated or vaporized fluid exits the boiler for use in various processes or heating applications, including water heating, centr ...
.
One of the ferry boats that travel between the Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center is now named the ''Richard F. Irvine'', having been renamed from ''Magic Kingdom II'' in 1997.
See also
*
Disney riverboats
References
External links
{{Commons category, Liberty Belle (ship, 1973)
Official website
Former Walt Disney Parks and Resorts attractions
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts gentle boat rides
Liberty Square (Magic Kingdom)
Paddle steamers of the United States