Steamboat Disasters of the Lower Missouri River - by Vicki Berger Erwin & James Erwin (Paperback)

The Steamboat Graveyard: A Journey Through the Perils of the Lower Missouri River is a thrilling account of the bravery and ingenuity of steamboat captains, passengers, and crews who navigated the treacherous waters of the Lower Missouri River during the nineteenth century.

With over three hundred boats meeting their end in the river's infamous "graveyard," this book details the perils that these brave men and women faced on every voyage.

Despite being derided as little more than an "orderly pile of kindling," steamboats were, in fact, technological marvels superbly adapted to the river's conditions.

Their light superstructure and long, wide, flat hulls powered by high-pressure engines drew so little water that they could cruise on "a heavy dew" even when fully loaded.

But these same characteristics made them susceptible to fires, explosions, and snags - tree trunks ripped from the banks, hiding under the water's surface.

With vivid storytelling and stunning historical detail, The Steamboat Graveyard is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, adventure, or the ingenuity of the human spirit.