1890’s – Steamboat Rex

1890’s – Steamboat Rex

The steamboat trade was vital to inland towns like Newport and the surrounding countryside.  Steamers from Newport had clear passage to New Orleans, Memphis and even St. Louis via the White and Mississippi Rivers, which provided ready markets for cotton and timber...
1880’s – Snag Boat Quapaw

1880’s – Snag Boat Quapaw

The Quapaw was typical of the government snag boats that kept the river free of fallen trees and other debris that could snag or sink a steamboat or barge.  Because the White River ran through heavy forests, snag-boating was very important to the early years of...
1870’s – Steamer DeSmet

1870’s – Steamer DeSmet

Some steamboats carried as many as 125 passengers and 2,000 bales of cotton.  When they came up the river, they carried thousands of sacks of salt along with cargo of sugar, molasses, and dry goods, which they could trade in the backcountry, before loading up with...
1870’s – Steamboat Dining Room

1870’s – Steamboat Dining Room

Early Jackson County chronicler W.E. Bevens describes the steamboats this way:  “To those early pioneers, so long forced to do without luxuries, they seemed the acme of elegance, with their bands of music, their calliopes, handsome cabins, tables adorned with...
1870’s – The Steamboat Walt

1870’s – The Steamboat Walt

The steamboat Walt was a truly elegant steamer.  Its 43 staterooms were lavishly furnished, but the 10 set aside for women were fitted like rooms in a fine hotel, with imported furnishings.  The cabin was covered with the finest velvet carpet, with all furniture...