The SS Meteor is a unique and historically significant vessel, as the last surviving example of the innovative "whaleback" design conceived by Scottish captain Alexander McDougall. Constructed in 1896 by the American Steel Barge Company in Superior, Wisconsin, she was originally named Frank Rockefeller and served primarily as a cargo steamer. Measuring 380 feet in overall length with a 366.5-foot keel, she had a beam of 45 feet and a depth of 26 feet. Her design featured a distinctive rounded hull with a low profile, optimized for maximum cargo capacity while maintaining a minimal draft, making her well-suited for the shallow waters of the Great Lakes. Initially, she functioned within the American Steel Barge fleet, transporting iron ore from Lake Superior ports to steel mills on Lake Erie and occasionally carrying grain. As a steamer, she often towed barges, including her consorts, facilitating bulk cargo movement across the lakes. After her sale to the Bessemer Steamship Company in 1900 and subsequent transfer to the Pittsburgh Steamship Company in 1901, she experienced a notable incident: grounding off Isle Royale in 1905 during a snowstorm, which caused damage from a collision with her tow. Throughout her service life, she was repurposed multiple times: from a "Tin Stacker" until 1927, to a sand dredge renamed South Park, and later as an auto carrier hauling vehicles until she wrecked off Manistique in 1942. During World War II, she was sold to the Cleveland Tanker Company and converted into a liquid tank vessel, acquiring the name Meteor, and carried gasoline and other liquids for over 25 years. Her operational life ended in 1969 when she ran aground near Marquette, Michigan. Declared too damaged for repair, she was preserved as a museum ship in Superior, Wisconsin, where she remains today. As the last extant whaleback, Meteor is a vital relic of maritime innovation on the Great Lakes, measuring 2,750 gross register tons and featuring a total of 12 cargo bays. Her accommodations include quarters, a galley, dining areas, showers, and laundry facilities, reflecting her role as a working vessel and a maritime engineering marvel. Preservation efforts continue, highlighting her importance as a symbol of maritime history and technological experimentation.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.