New Smyrna Beach, FL- Zach Zacharias will discuss the history of steamboating on the St. Johns River at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, at the New Smyrna Beach Regional Library, 1001 S. Dixie Freeway, New Smyrna Beach.
Steamboats became staples on the St. Johns River in the mid-1800s, transporting passengers, freight and military troops. After the Civil War, they played a major role in bringing tourists deep into the wilds of Florida. By 1880, there were more steam vessels on the St. Johns River than on any waterway south of New York’s Hudson River.
Zacharias, the senior curator of education and curator of history at the Museum of Arts & Sciences, will also explain how steamboats have survived for nearly 200 years.
Reservations are not required for this free program. For more information, call the library at 386-424-2910, option 4.
Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2016.
