The History of Steamboats on the Ohio River

Steamboats and river transportation were critical to the westward expansion of America, and the Ohio River was one of the main arteries.  For almost 130 years, the steam engine was the heart of commerce on America’s inland waterways until replaced by the more efficient diesel engine.  Katie Engstrom, with the Belle of Louisville and Howard Steamboat Museum, will present on the history of steamboats and their impact on the Ohio River.  This program is free with regular interpretive center admission and free to both members of the Falls of the Ohio Foundation and the Howard Steamboat Museum.