The Great Ships
The Great Ships series examines the history of the world's shipbuilding. This maritime history provides an in-depth look at how the great ships of the past created a history of their own-one that helped determine the historical course of events. Each program explores the contributions of a particular type of vessel, and how that vessel helped to shape and define its era. The Great Ships would be useful for classes on American History, World History, Maritime History, Cultural History and Science and Technology. It is appropriate for middle school and high school.
The Riverboats
It was Mark Twain's youthful ambition to be a riverboat pilot. These majestic boats evoke a romantic nostalgia for a time long past. Chugging down the Mississippi and its tributaries, these boats were luxurious pleasure vessels. But more important, riverboats managed to tame the mighty rivers of the West and revolutionize transportation in the 19th century.
Discussion Questions
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Romance and nostalgia surround riverboats. They are seen as more than merely a form of transportation. Why do these boats evoke such emotional feelings?
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Robert Fulton harnessed steam power for water transportation in 1807. How did steamboats contribute to the expansion of America in the 19th century?
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Nations at war have employed maritime weapons for centuries. The riverboat was no exception. What was the role of the riverboat in the American Civil War?
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How did the riverboat revolutionize transportation? Discuss the ways in which transportation differed before and after the invention of the steamboat.
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What are the differences between keel boats and flat bottom boats? What were the advantages of building riverboats with flat bottoms? How did the terrain of the western rivers dictate the design of the riverboats?
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Rooms aboard a ship are called staterooms. How did they get this name?
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The steamboat had been called
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The advantages of steam powered boats were tremendous. But there were also some very real dangers. What were some of the dangers of the steamboats?
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How did ship designers and builders create
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Why did the riverboat decline in popularity?
Extended Activities
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Using a medium of your choice, design or create a model of a riverboat.
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Novelist Mark Twain used the riverboat as inspiration for many of his works. Indeed, the riverboats are characters in his most famous stories. Write a short story that involves a riverboat. It could be an adventure, a romance or anything else you choose.
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