Histories

The City of Detroit III is considered Frank Kerby's greatest design. Frank Kirby designed some of the largest and most elegant side wheel steamers ever built. In the days before air travel and super highways. Businessmen traveling between Detroit, Michigan and Buffalo, New York often took a D&C overnight steamer. Passengers boarded around 6pm, went to their cabins, and dressed for dinner. Dinner was served in the large formal dining room at prices and service that rivaled the finest restaurants on shore. After dinner they could relax in the gothic smoking room or walk the upper deck before retiring to their cabins. This magnificent paddle wheel steamer remained in service until 1951. She was scraped after long periods of idleness on the Detroit waterfront.