The ferry boat "Indiana" plies the river past Madison, Indiana. She, no doubt, is headed up-river where she worked the Carrollton, Kentucky to Lamb, Indiana trade.
The "Fleetwood" left Cincinnati on her maiden voyage August 26, 1880. She was retired about 1894. Notice the railroad tracks in the foreground, another boat approaching the docks and the ladies with their parasols.
The "Belle of the Bends" was built in 1898 and in 1909 she sank and was raised for the first time. A year later she again went under and was raised. She ran as an excursion boat in New Orleans in 1910 and 1911. Soon after she was overhauled and...
Maps; Horse railroads; Steamboats; Lanier, J.F.D.; Hanging Rock Hill, Indiana; Rowboats; Madison, Indiana; Ohio River
This is an inset from an old map (no date given); in it you can see steamboats on the Ohio River along with three men in a row boat. On the shore horses pull the quaint little train along the track. The house to the far left that is partially cut...
The "Washington" is shown docked at Madison, Indiana, just above the Trow Flour Mill. On its sign you can see part of the word 'Perfection'. Perfection flour was shipped all over the country, and to other countries, by boat and rail. The mill...
Excursion steamer; Steamboats; Riverboats; "East St. Louis"; "Virginia"; "Steel City"; "Island Belle"; "Greater New Orleans"; "Washington"
The"East St. Louis", shown here on one of her excursions, was originally built as the "Virginia" in 1895 at Cincinnati and was later called the "Steel City". She was renamed the "East St. Louis" in December 1916. At that time her owner was the...
The steamer "City of Louisville" was billed as the "fastest boat in the world". Its dimensions were: length, 307 feet; beam, 43 feet; hold, 7 feet in depth. It was chartered to carry 1,500 passengers. It had 72 state rooms with sleeping...
Lumber; Boat & ship industry; Mules; "G. W. McBride"; Madison
The information given by the photographer says, "145' timbers shipped on 3 flat cars from the state of Washington to build steamboat "G.W. McBride" at the Marine Ways in Madison". The location of the picture is behind the freight station on Vaughn...
Steamboats; Riverboats; Excursion boats; "Belle of Louisville"; "Idlewild"; "Avalon"; Rivers
The "Idlewild" was sold to J. Harold Gorsage in 1947 and the name was changed to "Avalon". She became the most widely traveled excursion boat on the rivers. During her tramping days she made stops at Omaha, Nebraska; New Orleans; Stillwater,...
Steamboats; Riverboats; Madison, Indiana; Rivers; "Kentucky"; "East St. Louis"
Here the "Kentucky" and "East St. Louis" pass Madison, Indiana. You can find out more about the boats by using the search feature and typing in the name of each boat.
Here you can see one of the many shanty boats that dotted the shoreline of the Ohio River. In the distance you can see a barge pushing cargo up the river.
Steamboats; Riverboats; W. S. McChesney, Jr.; Diesel; Ohio River
The "Froman M. Coots" began life as a steam ferry built for the Wiggins Ferry Company of St. Louis. At that time she was called the "W. S. McChesney, Jr." She served the Louisville and Jeffersonville areas. It was converted to diesel-electric...
Rivers; Waterfronts; Horses; Mules; Steamboats; Riverboats; Mail steamers; Passengers
This river scene depicts great activity along the levee in any typical river town. The "Columbia" is either loading or unloading her passengers. The horse-drawn carts near the gangplank were probably used to convey passengers to and from the boat....
Steamboats; Riverboats; Excursion boat; Steamboat accidents; Ohio River
The "Island Queen" glides down the Ohio near Madison, Indiana. She was built in 1925 and for more than 20 years, she carried "day trippers" on the Ohio River between Cincinnati and Coney Island. She also ran excursions along the inland waterways...
This may be the "Alma" built in 1907 at Wheeling, Virginia, but we have no further information. The "Madison" is probably the boat built by Howard in 1892. Judging by the horse-drawn wagons and coach, the date would probably be early 1900s.
The old Marine Ways is to the right of the picture. On the left is the old race track. Horse racing and sulky racing were once popular sports in Madison.
The "Carmania" was built at Newport News, Virginia in 1896 and was originally of Mexican registry called the "Tlacotalpan". After being sold to Mobile, Alabama she rammed a dock and killed some 50 people. She was then renamed "Margaret". She was...
A group of people are shown on the "Falls City" on the Kentucky River. The "Falls City" was built in 1890 at New Albany and worked the Louisville to Frankfort route until she had to be replaced with another boat bearing the same name in 1898.
