Glass Bottom Boats Traditional Cache

One of Silver Springs' most famous attractions has long been its glass bottom boats. The boats have taken many forms over the years but the principle has always been the same. Looking into the water, though a pane of glass, reduces glare and allows you to see just as clearly as if you were snorkeling, without getting wet.

The following history is summarized from Eternal Spring by Richard Martin: 1966.

The first glass bottom boat was built by Philip Morrell, sometime before 1903, as the steamboat era was declining. Philip outfitted his rowboat with a piece of glass and a new era began. A similar boat (photo below) was recovered from the river in the 1950s, by Ross Allen. Silver Springs proprietors Ray, Davidson and Ray, during its modern peak, named their boats after themselves and family members. Later the names changed to paying homage to Native American leaders. Some, but not all of the incarnations of the glass bottomed boat are featured on this page.