PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh's newest floating classroom traveled the Ohio River into the Emsworth Lock and Dam, arrving in Pittsburgh on Wednesday after a 1,600-mile voyage through nine states.
Explorer is a 90-foot passenger boat to be used by
RiverQuest, which offers science and environmental educational programs in the Pittsburgh area.
"We'll be able to take 149 students on this vessel. It's simply wired like no one can ever imagine, in terms of technology," said Jim Cimino, of the RiverQuest board of directors.
It's one of the world's first "green" boats, designed to be environmentally friendly from beginning to end. Explorer will be docked at the Carnegie Science Center on the city's North Shore.
"We are training children, giving them not only a formal education, but recreational opportunities," said Cimino.
Bigger than Riverquest's last boat, Explorer can hold five times more students so they can learn about ecology, climate change and river history.
Marge McLuckie watched the boat arrive in Pittsburgh. She was eager to see it on the water "just because it's something special coming through, and it's going to the science center."
"A lot of schools go on those ships, and I know one of our grandchildren has already, and I think it's great for educational facilities, so we're very fortunate to have it in our city," said Herbert McLuckie.
RiverQuest's vessel Explorer arrived in Pennsylvania after traveling the Tennessee Tombiggbee Waterway.
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