Ohio Transportation History

Front

What were flatboats used for before roads?

Back

Flatboats were loaded with goods and floated downriver to different towns, but they could only travel in one direction following the flow of the water.

Front

How did people travel upriver before roads?

Back

People used keelboats, which were similar to flatboats but with a pointed front. Horses on shore would pull the keelboat with ropes while men with poles pushed in the right direction.

Front

Why was there a need for better transportation in Ohio?

Back

Most Ohioans were farmers with surplus crops. Local demand was low, so better transportation was needed to reach markets farther away with higher demand.

Front

What was Ohio's first road and who built it?

Back

Ohio's first road was Zane’s Trace, built by Ebenezer Zane in 1797.

Front

What changes did the National Road bring to Ohio?

Back

The National Road brought new bridges, businesses, and community growth, connecting Ohio with towns and cities to the east.

Front

What was significant about the first steam-powered boat on the Ohio River?

Back

It connected every town on the Ohio River to port cities, allowing steamboats to carry large loads cheaply and quickly both upriver and downriver.

Front

What were the Ohio and Erie Canal and the Miami and Erie Canal?

Back

The Ohio and Erie Canal served eastern Ohio, and the Miami and Erie Canal served western Ohio, both improving water travel and helping businesses grow.

Front

How did canals impact the price of wheat for Ohio farmers?

Back

Before canals, a bushel of wheat sold for 25 cents locally. After canals, it sold for 75 cents to a merchant, who then sold it for more than a dollar in New York City.

Front

What were the limitations of canals?

Back

Canals froze in the winter and could only be dug where there was water to fill them.

Front

When was Ohio's first railroad built and what changes did it bring?

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Ohio's first railroad was built in 1836. Initially, horses pulled cars over wooden rails, but steam engines and steel rails soon made travel faster and cheaper.