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Boat Captains
The model included in this exhibit area is typical of a late 1800’s steamboat captain. The designation, Captain, was an honorific title given to the person in command of a boat. The audio stations allow the visitor to learn more about past notable river captains. Included in the narratives is the story of Capt. Mary Miller, the first woman to receive her Steamboat Masters license.
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Boat Simulator
Take a Turn at the Wheel: In this state-of-the-art audio visual experience, you can “captain” a speed boat, a towboat or a Coast Guard vessel in a variety of scenarios, including daytime or nighttime. The center’s simulator, the first of its kind to be open to the general public, was created by the same company that builds simulators for the maritime industry and navies around the world. The simulator’s equipment is very realistic, and you will feel the vibration of the boat and the sounds will be similar to those experienced on each of the vessels. Enjoy driving the boat in a leisure fashion or give it full throttle for a more exciting experience. However you drive or whichever scenario you choose, you will be guaranteed a memorable experience in the simulator.
Civil War
This exhibit pays homage to the role of the rivers during the Civil War. Not only were the rivers used to transport troops, but they were also fundamental in supplying the troops with supplies, cannons, ammunition, etc. The photographs on the wall show the ironclads and timber-clads of that era. As one can see, those boats were just steamboats commandeered into military service. Given a tough outer layer of protection, the steamboats were made more impervious to enemy fire. Also included in the exhibit is a leather coal scuttle used to fire up the steamboat engines. The utensils are indicative of the type the soldiers would have used on the battlefield. The gun and saber are typical of weapons of that war. Also included in the exhibit is a steamboat whistle as well as a cannonball.
River Bottoms
THIS EXHIBIT INCLUDES MUSSEL AND DREDGEBOAT DISPLAYS WITH 2-MINUTE VIDEOS, IN ADDITION TO VIDEOS ABOUT NON-SOURCE POLLUTION AND WATER QUALITY. Mussels: Our rivers host approximately 50 species of mussels or freshwater clams. These bi-valve creatures are vastly important to the environment as they filter impurities from the water. They also serve as an important food source for aquatic and terrestrial life in the riparian environment. Furthermore, they are environmental indicators and warn us of problems with water purity. Non-Source Pollution: When pollution in our waterways cannot be pinned onto one polluting contributor such as a factory, it is caused by either soil erosion, urban run-off or the careless use of chemicals such as fertilizers or pesticides. These contaminants damage or kill mussels, fish and amphibians living in the water. Water Quality: Rivers are important for recreation, as a source for drinking water and for navigation. The cleanliness of the water is important for all of these activities. The United States Corps of Engineers is responsible for monitoring and managing water quality. Data sensors, as well as direct sampling, allow scientists to measure oxygen levels, temperatures and specific conductivity of the water. River Geology: Rivers transport not only water but also sediment made up of rock, sand and mud. The Ohio River is unique in that it also carries glacial debris, called “exotic rock”, which is different from the geological makeup of the bedrock. Sand dunes on the river bottom constantly are pushed along by the current and flooding to the mouth of the river. Sand is produced by the physical and chemical weathering of the rock when it meets with water. Dredging: As sand, gravel and silt wash downstream, river channels gradually fill up, causing difficulties in navigation. The US Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for removing these deposits keeping the waterways navigable. They also dredge for environmental viability of the rivers removing contaminants before they spread to other waterways or harm fish, wildlife or people.
River Film
At the back of the museum complex, visitors may enjoy a film called Rivers: Heart of our Nation. This 17-minute film is an overview of the importance of the river in our daily lives. Guests will learn about river history, flooding, recreation on the river, hydro-electric power and the towing industry. Immediately adjacent to the theater is the lobby which is now housed in a former livery from the late 1800’s. One original wall of the space allows visitors to see the original “false-front” roofline. Also of interest are the antique chandeliers which were from the 1800’s and restored from gas to electric fixtures. This lobby space serves as a revolving art exhibit space with exhibits changing approximately every 60 days.
Corps of Engineers Diving Suit
The Mark V diving suit, used to perform maintenance on our nations dams, was used as late as the 1980’s. As one can tell, it was a danger in itself as a diver was unable to dress himself or move about with any ease. Another person had to not only help the diver dress and get into the water, but also had to stay “topside” to operate the accompanying “one-diver” air compressor to assure the diver received an adequate supply of air. One can view the air hose that attached to the 65-pound helmet. The “windows” in the helmet served no purpose as the water in the river quickly becomes opaque as a diver descends. Also included in the display is a pair of brass shoes used to stabilize a diver in the “pitch-black” darkness of a muddy river. Divers today use modern scuba diving gear making any diving operation more efficient and safer. Donated by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Music Stations
The 7 music stations located throughout the exhibit area pay homage to three historic steamboats: Glendy Burke, Shawneetown and John Gilbert and 4 captains of that era as well: Nye, Miller, Ryman and Richardson. "Glendy Burke" was written by Stephen Foster in 1860. Foster wrote the lyrics after working at his brother's steamboat warehouse in Cincinnati. Ironically enough, though it was written about a real life steamboat, by the time Foster wrote the song, the boat had already struck a snag near Bird's Point, MO and had broken apart, completely destroyed. Having survived only 4 years, it was not an atypical ending to a steamboat. The wreckage continued to damage other boats in the Mississippi River for another 45 years. From the CD "Aural Traditions", the lyrics of this song tell of the captain and crew of the Str. Glendy Burke. Foster was interested in folklore and also composed: "Oh Susanna", "Camptown Races"," My Old KY Home", and "Swannee River". "John Gilbert" is a typical "rouster" or "roustabout" song sung by the deckhands of the steamboat era. The men who crewed the John Gilbert referred to it as the "Peanut John". These roustabouts loaded and unloaded all the cargo and the passenger luggage on the steamboats. Life was hard and they often sang about their lives: details of the boat and its "run", the homesickness they felt and even the pain of their weary muscles. The John Gilbert was a packet boat, the "workhorse" of the rivers. Packets hauled passengers, cargo and even livestock. The song lyrics were preserved in Steamboatin' Days, a collection of roustabout songs compiled by Paducah native, Mary Wheeler. "Shawneetown" was part of a collection of river songs heard and compiled by musician and folklorist Dillon Bustin after he returned from the Ohio River Valley. Shawneetown, IL, claiming to be the oldest town in IL, was a major port on the lower Ohio River in the 1800's. Located between St. Louis, MO and Louisville, KY, the town was known to have hosted Native Americans and pioneers in its early days. The word "bushwacking", used in the lyrics, was a term for the method people used to propel their boats upstream by pulling on overhead branches.
River Habitats
Habitat Corner The River Floodplain is the last line of defense for reducing soil and nutrient loss from the land. It includes hardwood forests which give refuge to a variety of birds and other wildlife and sustains insects which are food for the birds. Also found in the floodplain is the wetland. This habitat has standing water for most of the year, if not all. This wet, swampy area gives habitat to water-loving plants and animals. Wetlands provide more plant and animal life than any other ecosystem on earth. The wetlands of the Ohio River are a major reason that this area is an important “flyway” for migrating waterfowl and other birds. The Aquatic Habitat Most of the Ohio River Bottom is made up of shifting sand and gravel bars. Near the shorelines of the river and the bars, silt collects and stumps and snags can be seen rising out of the water as well, providing ideal habitat for fish. As a result, the Ohio River aquatic habitat supports some 200 species of native fish. Recreational fishing is a popular sport all along the Ohio River and its associated waters. Another species that is prevalent in the aquatic habitat is the mussel. There were, at one time, some 103 native species of mussels in the free-flowing Ohio River; that number is now reduced to 50 species as many have become extinct due to mankind’s interference in their habitat. Construction in the river (bridges, dams, etc.) has stirred up the mud-particles suffocating the mussels. Also, poor oversight of contaminates has been perilous to the mussels as chemicals have often caused large mussel beds to succumb. Several species of mussels are now protected by federal law. Also, the fishing of mussels is now heavily regulated with specific guidelines for harvesting. Not only are mussels part of the food chain for other species of wildlife, but they are paramount to water cleanliness as one adult mussel can purify 6 gallons of water per day. Also living in the aquatic habitat are several species of turtles, specifically the alligator snapping turtle and the map turtle.
Hidden Highways
Working for America: The inland waterway system spans 25,000 miles throughout the central United States. The largest part of this network is the Mississippi River System, which includes the Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland rivers. This exhibit gives the visitor a great perspective of how vast the river system is, and how many different waterways make up the Mississippi River watershed. This audio-visual experience allows you to select a departure city and arrival city and then you watch as the board shows you which waterways are used, the elevations above sea level and the total distance traveled. Most of us are not aware of many of our navigable waterways, so be prepared to learn much at this exhibit.
River Spy
Get connected to the river with this exhibit. With a live feed from a camera on our roof, zoom in on all the boats currently on the river in front of the center. See what kinds of vessels are moving, which are tied up, and what cargo is being moved on the river.