River Landings and Ferry Locations Along the Ouachita River

Have you ever been curious as to where some of the steamboat landings were along the Ouachita river? Back in 1976, the Ouachita Council of Governments and the Monroe-Ouachita Regional Planning Commission did a two year Resource Survey study of Historic Preservation in Ouachita Parish. They were given a funding grant from the Housing and … Continue reading River Landings and Ferry Locations Along the Ouachita River →

Steamboats at a Monroe Landing

Here is my newest postcard I have added to my collection! It was mailed in 1907. It shows two steamboats docked probably about where the Children's Museum is now. It was where the Monroe Grocery and the Keller Grocery had their warehouses and the Monroe Ice Factory sat. Docked at the landing were the Handy … Continue reading Steamboats at a Monroe Landing →

The Ouachita Belle

Tulane has a very impressive steamboat collection. Among the collection is this beauty: https://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/islandora/object/tulane:75015 I think they have the date wrong though. The Ouachita Belle was built in Louisville, KY for Captain Fred Blanks' line and made it to New Orleans in December that year to start her run. She travelled up and down the … Continue reading The Ouachita Belle →

Steamboat Landing on the Ouachita – Circa 1905

This is a postcard I bought on Ebay. It shows the steamboat Frank B. Hayne at a landing somewhere in Monroe (Pine street maybe?). The postcard was written on the back with a date of 1912. The image though, has to be a bit older than that. The Frank B. Hayne was built in Jeffersonville, … Continue reading Steamboat Landing on the Ouachita – Circa 1905 →

Steamer America

This steamboat was a familiar sight up and down the Ouachita river. The Steamer America was a Cooley boat, captained by L.V. Cooley, brother of G.B.

Ad for the Steamboat James Monroe

This ad appeared in the Louisiana State Gazette newspaper (New Orleans, LA) on the front page of the Feb. 19, 1820 issue. Only a few months before, this boat landed at Fort Miro for the first time. It was the first steamboat that ever came to the fort. The citizens were so excited, they threw … Continue reading Ad for the Steamboat James Monroe →

The First Female Pilot on the Ouachita River

This lost little piece of Ouachita history comes to us all the way from an Iowa newspaper. It details the fight for the right of a woman to pilot a riverboat against the most powerful riverboat family on the Ouachita. Sioux City Journal (Sioux City, IA) June 22, 1890, Page 11 A SAILOR IN PETTICOATS … Continue reading The First Female Pilot on the Ouachita River →

Steamer Bob Blanks in 1907

From the Collection of the Ouachita Parish Public Library. The above photo comes from a scrapbook held in the Special Collections department. It shows the Pargoud Line steamboat the Bob Blanks coming through one of the bridges at Monroe. I believe that is the railroad bridge and the person taking the photo is standing on … Continue reading Steamer Bob Blanks in 1907 →

Steamboat America docked in West Monroe

Picture of a bygone era. The Steamboat America (piloted by Captain Cooley) docked on the West Monroe side of the Ouachita River. You can see the Ouachita Parish Courthouse in the background.