I am planning a major event in Cincinnati in October 2025 called America’s River Roots. Formerly called Tall Stacks, this event has expanded its focus beyond traditional sternwheel riverboats — although 12 river cities will have steamboats there — to include a wide range of iconic historical and cultural features of our Nation’s Inland Rivers from food to music to towboats and barges.
As we put all of this together, I often reflect on how important our inland river system has been to the development of our country and the crucial role that it still plays today.
Unfortunately, many of us forget that in the 19th century, the inland river system served as a major transportation artery for goods and people. It facilitated trade between the interior states and the Gulf of Mexico, enabling the movement of agricultural products, especially cotton and grain. Cities like New Orleans, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh became key trading hubs.
By the mid-1800s, approximately 10 million tons of cargo were carried annually on river vessels. The inland river system underpinned the growth of our agricultural economy. It contributed to the rise of steamboats, which revolutionized transport, and ultimately promoted westward expansion.
Today, thousands of cars and trucks pass over our nation’s rivers on an elaborate network of bridges. Sadly, most drivers pay little attention to the important role our rivers and waterways still play in transporting goods and people. The numbers are substantial.
The Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) estimates that approximately 200 million passengers are carried safely aboard U.S. flagged passenger vessel in the U.S. According to the American Waterways Operators (AWO), more than 5,000 tugboats and towboats, and more than 33,000 barges, carry approximately 665 million tons of domestic cargo each year.
Both PVA and AWO promote safety and have developed programs which prioritize safe operations within their memberships. The two organizations are active in Washington D.C., advocating for their industries. They often communicate and work on issues of common concern.
Communications among river industry stakeholders is important, and I regularly speak with the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, local law enforcement, firefighting units, and others up and down the river to ensure that my company is well known to each from a safety and security standpoint. Most inland operators do the same.
But I encourage all who operate on the inland river system, and on our nation’s waterways, to go a step further by taking the time to communicate regularly with the public to ensure that they are aware of the important role that you play in our nation’s economic health and well-being.
I hope you can join us in in Cincinnati in October 2025 for America’s River Roots to help us celebrate our inland river heritage.
