06/21/2023
The Staten Island Ferry originated in 1817, when the Richmond Turnpike Company started a steamboat service from Manhattan to Staten Island. Cornelius Vanderbilt bought the Richmond Turnpike Company in 1838, and it was merged with two competitors in 1853 . They were converted to troop transport and gun boats for the Civil War. The City of New York assumed control of the ferry in 1905. With the first official class of Ferries ; called the borough class. There have been 11 specific classes of Ferries since. In this drawing I drew the last seven on the flag. Starting with the 5th class Mary Murray (1937)and finishing with the Ollis class (2021) ferries……………………………………………………………………