Wilderness River Cruises
by
Steamboat
Steamboating on
the Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee and Kanawha rivers
 Here
in the Wilderness Rivers Region is where Steamboating on
the western rivers originated in 1811. From the legends
of Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone to the infamous exploits
of river pirates and roustabouts, it’s a region filled
with tall tales and spellbinding stories.
You’ll relive the stories passed down through
generations as you travel through an ever changing country
of precipitous cliffs, gently rolling hills and farmlands
where the architecture ranges from Lincoln-style log cabins
to magnificent Southern mansions. Enjoy the hospitality
of the people who make this region t heir
home, as they welcome you with wide smiles and a warmth
that’s an intriguing blend of many cultures.
Here you’ll see firsthand the arts and crafts
of Appalachia, experience the excitement of major river
ports, enjoy regional specialities from Cincinnati chili
to Kentucky Burgoo and be transported back to where and
when the Golden Age of steamboating began.
Highlights of the Region
Ohio River
Nearly a thousand miles long, it once carried explorers seeking fame
and fortune, settlers heading west and the first steamboat to navigate
its mostly unknown waters and reach New Orleans. In its wake are numerous
islands and on either bank are peaceful rural vistas, quaint river
towns and bustling cities which evolved as a direct result of their
proximity to ‘the beautiful river’.
Tennessee River
Navigable by steamboat for its entire course, the 652 mile long Tennessee
River is the Ohio River’s largest tributary. Remarkable for its influence
on our nation’s history as well as its value as a source of water power,
it courses through dramatically scenic countryside.
Cumberland River
The now tranquil Cumberland River region wasn’t always so peaceful. Discovered
in 1748 by a group of Virginians, their settlements were unprotected
by a fort and often raided by Cherokees, Chickamaugas and Creeks. Later,
the area along its lovely 687 mile length figured prominently in Civil
War confrontations. From these historic conflicts arose legendary figures
including Davy Crockett and Sam Houston. Their exploits are still told
today up and down the Cumberland River.
Kanawha River
Formed by the New and Gauley rivers’ junction, this lovely waterway crosses
the Metro Valley of West Virginia and flows northwest to the Ohio River.
From Huntington to Charleston the natural, unspoiled beauty of the
‘Mountain State’ delights the eye and the imagination.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Steamboating originated here! In 1811, Robert Fulton built
and Nicholas Roosevelt piloted the New Orleans and eventually landed
safely in the port of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Cincinnati, Ohio
During the Great Steamboat Era, the ‘Queen City of the West’ was one
of the river’s busiest ports, with hundreds of steamboats arriving
and departing almost hourly.
Louisville, Kentucky
Home of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, the largest city in the
state was settled in 1778 and from 1820 grew rapidly as a major river
port.
Cave-In-Rock, Illinois
This infamous 55ft. wide ‘hole in the limestone bluff’ was where river
pirates once robbed and murdered flatboatmen after luring them into
their ‘house of entertainment’.
Cairo, Illinois
At the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, it was a depot
for Union supplies and the ‘Eden’ of Charles Dickens’ novel, Martin
Chuzzlewit.
Savannah, Tennessee and Shiloh National
Park
Situated south of the river, this is where, in April 1862, General Grant
defeated the Confederates in a bloody two-day battle and took control
of the lower Tennessee Valley.
Nashville, Tennessee
Once a major rail hub and riverport, ‘Music City, USA’ is now the mecca
of country music and host for the annual International Country Music
Fan Fair.
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