DISNEY MAGIC KINGDOM June 1972 OPENING YEAR Photo ADMIRAL FOWLER RIVER BOAT

Description

This is a VINTAGE 1972 PHOTOGRAPH from WALT DISNEY WORLD MAGIC KINGDOM featuring the ADMIRAL FOWLER RIVER BOAT.
The Admiral Joe Fowler was a riverboat ride vehicle named after Park Construction Administrator Joe Fowler, a former US Navy rear admiral who was in charge of the construction of both Disneyland and Walt Disney World
The riverboat was built by Tampa Ship Repair & Dry Dock Company in Tampa, Florida, the same place where the Walt Disney World Railroad's (WDWRR) four steam locomotives were refurbished
The Admiral Joe Fowler riverboat entered service a day after the Magic Kingdom park opened on October 1, 1971.
On May 20, 1973, a second riverboat named the Richard F. Irvine, which would later be renamed as the Liberty Belle in 1996, entered service.
But in late 1980, the Fowler riverboat was accidentally dropped from a crane while attempting to lift it into the dry dock area for a routine overhaul, and its hull was completely destroyed beyond repair.
The damaged riverboat was taken to a boneyard for a while before being broken up for scrap, after determining that the Magic Kingdom no longer needed two riverboats on the Rivers of America.
The riverboat's steam engine machinery was being shipped to Tokyo Disneyland to be used as part of the Mark Twain riverboat.
In 1997, the Magic Kingdom I ferry, which crosses the Seven Seas Lagoon taking guests between the Transportation and Ticket Center and the Magic Kingdom park, was renamed to Admiral Joe Fowler.
The Magic Kingdom II ferry renamed to Richard F. Irvine
Magic Kingdom Park is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando, Florida.
Owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks, Experiences and Products division, the park opened on October 1, 1971, as the first of four theme parks at the resort.
The park was initialized by Walt Disney and designed by WED Enterprises. Its layout and attractions are based on Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, and are dedicated to fairy tales and Disney characters.
Item is 3 x 3 and in good condition.
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