Rolling on the river: preserving America's steamboats

This thesis was written to encourage the preservation of Americas historic steamboats, and to assess the preservation efforts that have been made thus far. The steamboat played an immeasurable role in the early development of the United States and is currently being threatened. Current steamboat preservation is limited in scale and often unorganized, and a need for a comprehensive preservation plan is clear. As modern steam vessels are constructed to re-create the historic steamboat experience, focus must return to the saving of the original vessels. This thesis will examine the development of steam powered transportation in the United States, focusing on the Mississippi River Valley, showcase several operating historic and non-historic vessels, and present recommendations for continued operational success.