paddle wheelers

Paddle wheelers are boats or ships propelled by large paddle wheels mounted either on the sides or at the stern.

These vessels dominated river transportation in 19th-century America, particularly on the Mississippi River, where their shallow draft allowed navigation of waters too shallow for other large craft.

The term evokes a nostalgic era of steamboat travel, gambling boats, and leisurely river cruises.

The paddle wheelers carried passengers and cargo up and down the river.