keelboats
Shallow-draft cargo vessels
Keelboats are flat-bottomed river vessels with a structural keel running along the bottom, which provides stability and allows navigation in shallow waters.
Before steamboats dominated American rivers in the 19th century, keelboats were essential for transporting goods and passengers along waterways like the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.
They could be propelled by oars, poles, or sails, and crews often had to drag them upstream against the current.
The keelboat carried supplies downriver to the settlement.
Flat freight vessel
- flatboatLevel-bottomed river craft
- riverboatShallow-draft inland watercraft
- cargoTransported goods
- freightGoods being transported
hull · deck · rudder · mast · towline · pirogue · bateau · mackinaw
Early 1800s expedition leaders
- fur tradeCommercial exchange of animal skins
- westward expansionSpreading in sunset's direction
- frontierEdge of settlement
- explorationTraveling through unknown regions
settlers · rivermen · voyageurs · trappers · trade routes · cargo transport · American history · territorial expansion
Southern state or major river
- Ohio RiverMidwestern waterway to Mississippi
- Missouri RiverMajor central waterway
- downstreamAlong the current's path
- upstreamToward a river's origin
current · channel · navigation · sandbar · snag · portage · landing · levee
barge
Flat freight vessel
freight · hull · deck · rudder · mast · towline · pirogue · bateau · mackinaw · packet boat
Lewis and Clark
Early 1800s expedition leaders
- fur tradeCommercial exchange of animal skins
- westward expansionSpreading in sunset's direction
- frontierEdge of settlement
exploration · settlers · rivermen · voyageurs · trappers · trade routes · cargo transport · American history · territorial expansion · nineteenth century
Mississippi
Southern state or major river
- Ohio RiverMidwestern waterway to Mississippi
- Missouri RiverMajor central waterway
- downstreamAlong the current's path
upstream · current · channel · navigation · sandbar · snag · portage · landing · levee · confluence
mast
Vessel's sail support
windward · leeward · helm · skipper · crew · centerboard · ballast · jib · mainsail · racing
- watercraftboat, kayak, canoe, ships, ship
- boatingboat, ferry, motorboats, cruise, sailboats
- seafaringship, sailors, ships, sail, sailor
- Mississippi RiverItasca, levee, riverboats, towboats, towboat
- Yachtingyacht racing, yacht clubs, regattas, sailboats, sailing vessels
- River Historysteamboats, river trade, river ports, rivermen, river towns
keelboatsflatboats
Shallow-hulled river vessels
flat-bottomed boats · rafts · punts · jon boats · scows
keelboatsocean liners
Large passenger vessels
clipper ships · tall ships · frigates · galleons · cargo ships
keelboatssteamboats
Engine-powered water vessels
motorboats · powerboats · steamships · paddle wheelers · tugboats