after mcdougall was unable to persuade existing shipbuilders to try his designs, he founded the american steel barge company in superior, wisconsin in 1888, and built them himself. mcdougall actively promoted his design and company by sending the ss "charles w. wetmore" to london, and starting another shipyard in everett, washington, which built the ss "city of everett". when the 1893 world's columbian exposition, to be held in chicago, illinois, was in the planning stages, mcdougall recognized another opportunity to publicize his design. the "columbus", conceived as an elaborate ferry, was intended to demonstrate that the whaleback design would work well in passenger service, and would be able to travel at high speed. the ship's name honored the explorer christopher columbus as did the world's columbian exposition itself, timed to coincide with the 400th anniversary of his first voyage to the new world.