Over the Falls of the Ohio

Photo:  Map of the Falls of the Ohio, by Georges Henri Victor Collot, French explorer, from his book “Voyage dans l’Amerique Septentrionale,” 1796.  Library of Congress. 

When Meriwether Lewis and his minimal crew came to the Louisville, Kentucky and Clarksville, Indiana area in October 1803, they encountered the largest hazard since leaving Pittsburgh – the Falls of the Ohio.

According to Bess Hawthorne who wrote in the October 1938 “Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society,” the falls were caused by a ledge of rock extending across the river two miles below the site of Louisville. When the water level was low the greater part of the rocks were visible and there were three channels through which the water passed. When the water was high the navigator scarcely knew there were any falls except for the increase in the current’s velocity. But in times of low water the passage was dangerous – which was true about eight months of the year.

This section likely made it necessary for Lewis to hire a local pilot to take control of the keelboat; someone who was experienced in navigating the falls. We know the Ohio was low in the fall of 1803 based on the numerous references in Meriwether Lewis’s journal about the keelboat getting stuck on sandbars or “riffles” after leaving Pittsburgh.

Since Lewis did not write in his journal between September 19 and November 10, 1803, we don’t know any details of the keelboat’s trip through the falls. But for some reason, his brief stop to pick up William Clark in Clarksville was extended to nearly two weeks – perhaps to make repairs to the keelboat incurred during the trip through the falls.