The Book
The River Book: Cincinnati and the Ohio makes a bold, yet seemingly accurate claim “Without
the Ohio River, there would be no Cincinnati community” (6). The rest of the
book regales the reader with reasons why this is an accurate claim: travel, economy,
goods and livestock, entertainment, and leisure. The early settlers of Cincinnati
were dependent on the river and today’s citizens are no different, although the
reasons might have changed.
Each
chapter is written by a different contributor with a unique connection to the Ohio
River: from employees on a riverboat to lifelong residents. This collection of
chapters explains the importance, value, and history of the river. Readers will
read of pirates and outlaws, the steamboat industry, energy and power, dam and
lock systems, and floods to name a few. One chapter, I found particularly
interesting, focused on the nine bridges that cross the Ohio River. Area residents
originally believed that the river was too wide for a bridge to span. However,
in 1862 a pontoon bridge was created to help with the defense of Cincinnati
during the Civil War. In 1866, after ten years of construction, the first
official bridge opened: Roebling Suspension Bridge. Today, it is fascinating to
see so many bridges (for cars, railways, and pedestrians) in a short span of
space.
The Place
The Ohio River truly is an impressive sight to see. It is 981 miles long, with Cincinnati being close to the middle. On one end is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and on the other end is the Mississippi River, passing through six states. Despite the evidence of modern technology and buildings, it is still possible to close your eyes and imagine a bustling riverfront full of steamboats, passengers, and livestock or goods.
One way to recapture that image is to take a Riverboat cruise with BB Riverboats. There are a variety of cruises to choose from, but I would recommend the Historic Cincinnati Sightseeing Cruise. This cruise provides insight into the history of Cincinnati and takes passengers west to the Roebling Suspension Bridge and then east beyond Mt. Adams. There is nothing quite like floating under numerous bridges and feeling the breeze as you take in the view. The river cruises do require a reservation and are available most days of the week.