Minne-Ha-Ha II

Wilbur Dow, the company's owner at the time, wanted to make the boat itself an attraction and it was quickly decided that it should be powered by steam.

[2] A side-wheeler was originally considered to keep with the tradition of the older steamboats on the lake, but the ship, at an estimated 100-foot design, would have appeared to be too wide and short.

[3] Construction started on October 2, 1968, at the Steamboat Company's shipyard in Baldwin, located near Ticonderoga, New York, at the lake's northern end.

The hull of the new ship was launched on December 6, 1968, and was towed by the Mohican to the Steel Pier in Lake George Village.

[1] Wilbur Dow's wife, Ruth, struck the champagne bottle against the boat on July 30, 1969, and the ship was christened Minne-Ha-Ha, meaning "laughing waters".

[5] The ship's demand was becoming higher so Bill Dow, Wilbur's son, decided to modify the Minne.

[6] Since she did not fit the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, meaning she was not handicapped accessible, along with her difficult navigation because of her low speed, the decision was made to lengthen the vessel.

Since August 1, 1969, the Minne makes six-hourly trips each day; daily during the summer months, and on weekends during the spring and fall.