howard steamboat museum & mansion

This mansion and museum is a bit off the beaten track but worth the side trip. The history of riverboats is layed out in the Howard's mansion. They were a family of boat builders who's shipyard, now called Jeffboat, is the oldest continuously operating shipyard in America. Their history and the shipyard's history should be a treat for any history buff.

If you enjoy American history, this is the place for you. The museum the Howards actually used! You will learn about the importance of steamboats in their time, and the history they bring. The narrators are very nice, and really know their stuff. I'm a steamboat lover, and I learned a lot.

This historic 1870's mansion is a neat place to learn about the history of the building of paddle wheel steamboats

What an interesting museum. This very old Victorian Mansion was home and headquarters of the Howard Steamboat Builders. It contains many examples of steamboat building. Learn about what made these beautiful boats if yesteryear so desired. The craftsmanship, detailed construction and beautiful rail led entry's and colorful stained glass windows. You will learn that the doorways to the suites were never squared on all sides but that only the hinge side was straight. The doors were contoured to the vessels incline. Learn about its steam powered engines that provided power to its paddles. There are side Paddlewheel boats and Rear Paddlewheel Boats. The entry is usually made from the front of the. Edsel to keep people away from its paddle-wheels. Learn about the meanings of the steam whistles and the language of navigators of these glamorous old river boats. This is an extremely informative museum. You will not find any entire Steamboats here but you will see many relics of yesteryear, Pilot Houses, Ships Belks and Whistles as well as a full sized paddle-wheel. Learn from a company who constructed and launched them into the Ohio River where they could travel to the Mississippi River. Travel back to the days of these Grand Old River Boats and the Days of Mark Twain.

This home is beautiful and showcases the workmanship of craftsmen who worked across the street building steamboats. It is truly amazing that this home survived both fire and flood. The grand staircase, modeled after the ones found on the steamboats, is truly an astounding sight.

Our guide, Lowell Smith, was wonderful. At 88 years young he regaled us with his wonderful wit. HIs knowledge of steamboat building, the Howard family and life in the mid 1800's brought history alive. His first hand recounting of his experiences in WW2 made us a captive audience.

Our tour guide was cordial, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. There are many, many interesting items in the museum's collection. Our eleven-year old ended up enjoying the visit even though he was hot and tired after a soccer game. The mansion has modern air-conditioning. There's a flyer at the entrance for a free self-guided walking tour of the grounds. We'll walk the grounds next time. Free parking along the street behind the mansion.

We stopped in for a tour of the Howard Steamboat Museum and loved that the mansion and Howard family history was so preserved. Our guide, Dorothy, was lovely and took us back in time as she showed us around. This historic home was especially interesting in that most of the furnishings and displays were actually of the Howard family and used in the home.

We have visited the Howard Steamboat Museum on multiple occasions. Twice just for the tour (we took friends back) and once for the the festival. What an epic way to enjoy a day, get a great look at the past, and an understanding of how people lived in a bygone era of great steamships. This museum is a really great place and great value! Highly recommended!

Thank goodness we stumbled upon this museum by accident. The combination of being a huge family home plus the artifacts of designing & building steamboats back in the day made us all interested to take the tour. It was a bit costly but worth every penny.

I went here with my Mother last summer and we both had a very nice time. It was nice for both of us to learn more about the history of this area and since my Mother is not from here it gave her a general feel for the area and what made it what it is. I would definitely recommend this relatively short tour for anyone who wants to learn more about the area.

if you like steam boats and other iver life then i would say to go here and visit here as they have a lot of history on the river. this place was built by a river boat caption

interesting grounds outside but need more never been befoere and do not plan on going back. small and fast tour

Small but lovely mansion highlighting steamboat industry...in process of being restored but staff is enthusiastic and knowledgable. Interesting for a variety of ages-

As far as I can Remember the Tour and House was Good.