by Alice Day
synopsis
Riverboats were the workhorses of American commerce at one time, providing an inexpensive method for moving both goods and passengers. Also known as paddlewheelers, showboats, steamboats, and sternwheelers, they traveled the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio Rivers between 1810 and the 1860s. With the coming of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869, these colorful boats began to fade in popularity. Great Ships: The Riverboats features footage of the riverboats in their prime, with commentary by historians. Readings from Mark Twain's Life on the Mississippi are also provided.
