River Roots is Susquehanna NHA’s blog series featuring history from York and Lancaster Counties that showcases the Susquehanna River’s historic, cultural, and natural resource contributions to our nation’s heritage.

RiverRoots Heritage Blog

The graceful wooden yacht you see gliding silently along the Susquehanna today has a story that spans more than a century. The Electric Launch Company built the historic Chief Uncas motor yacht for an American industrial titan in 1912. Today, Susquehanna National Heritage Area (SNHA) welcomes thousands of visitors aboard that same vessel to experience its River Discovery Boat Tours. The Chief Uncas’s unique journey connects the river to a broader story of American innovation, industry, and cultural change.

An All-Electric Beginning

The Electric Launch Company (ELCO) of New Jersey became nationally known at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, when fifty-five of their electric boats ferried over one million visitors across a man-made lake in the “White City.” In an era when the country was readily dazzled by new technologies, electricity became a symbol of American progress. ELCO’s quiet, battery-powered boats became the talk of the fair.

By 1912, ELCO’s clientele included wealthy families, entrepreneurs, and world leaders. Among them was Adolphus Busch, co-founder of the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company. Busch was a German immigrant who revolutionized American brewing through pasteurization, refrigerated railcars, and large-scale bottling. He had the means to indulge in modern luxuries.

Uncas Lodge

 

Busch purchased a custom-built, 55-foot ELCO yacht for his summer lodge on Lake Otsego in Cooperstown, New York. The vessel featured a fully-electric propulsion system, which was cutting-edge technology for the era. It was furnished with Honduran mahogany, brass fixtures, wicker furniture, and Tiffany glass. The luxurious and technologically advanced Chief Uncas became a floating retreat for the Busch family.

What’s in a Name?

Courtesy of the Mohegan Tribe

The name Chief Uncas carries both real and literary history. Uncas was a 17th-century Mohegan leader in what is now Connecticut, remembered for his alliances with English colonists during a turbulent period of Native–colonial relations. Nearly two centuries later, author James Fenimore Cooper reimagined Uncas as a central character in his 1826 novel The Last of the Mohicans. Cooper’s fictionalized portrayal reflected the romantic ideals of the 19th century more than the lived experiences of Native peoples, and it helped shape a popular but often misleading image of Mohegan culture.

Adolphus Busch named both his Cooperstown estate and his 1912 yacht Chief Uncas, drawing on the literary fame of Cooper, whose hometown was deeply tied to his father’s legacy and his Leatherstocking Tales. By choosing this name, Busch connected both his property and vessel to Cooperstown’s cultural identity and the romanticized vision of the American frontier.

Today, the name reminds us not only of the boat’s ties to literary heritage and place, but also of the ways Native histories have been reshaped and obscured in American culture.

From Luxury to Legacy

The Chief Uncas remained in the Busch family for four generations. In the 1950s, the Busch family converted the vessel from its original electric propulsion to a gasoline engine, reflecting mid-century practicality. Later, she served as a public tour vessel on Lake Otsego, hosting everything from sightseeing groups to “dry proms.”

For the yacht’s 100th anniversary in 2012, Lou Hager, a fourth-generation descendant of Adolphus Busch, restored the Chief Uncas to its original all-electric system, returning her to the quiet cruising that made her so distinctive a century earlier.

A Historic & Eco-Friendly Flagship for SNHA’s River Discovery Tours

In 2021, Susquehanna National Heritage Area (SNHA) completed its third season of free pontoon tours on the Susquehanna River. The program’s popularity inspired the search for a larger, U.S. Coast Guard-certified vessel to carry more passengers and on more trips.

In late 2022, SNHA acquired the Chief Uncas and transported her roughly 250 miles from Cooperstown, New York, to the Susquehanna River, where she now serves as a tour boat.

Sailing into the Future

From gilded-age luxury to today’s river adventures, the Chief Uncas carries forward a legacy of innovation, heritage, and connection to the Susquehanna—one voyage at a time.  What was once a private yacht for the Busch family is now a local treasure that quietly glides from the Zimmerman Center dock, offering new perspectives of the river to the public.

Today, guests can step back in time on a River Discovery Tour and explore the Susquehanna on a variety of themed cruises. Celebrate local Native heritage, learn about seasonal spooky river lore, or enjoy the breathtaking colors of a Sunset Cruise. The Chief Uncas may also be booked for private charters to host meaningful gatherings.

Learn More

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of the Susquehanna River aboard the Chief Uncas, a 1912 electric-powered vessel with a rich history. Operated by Susquehanna National Heritage Area (SNHA), this unique boat offers a variety of tours that blend natural beauty, cultural heritage, and quiet elegance.

Chief Uncas boat tours are available June through October annually and depart from the Zimmerman Center for Heritage located at 1706 Long Level Road Wrightsville, PA 17368. Visit SNHA’s website to learn more about current tour options and reserve your seat today!