River Museum

The River Museum

The River Museum

The River Museum is now opened on a limited basis. Please contact the fort for available times.

Between 1836 and 1917 a slackwater navigation system of 14 locks and dams was built on the Kentucky River. The Commonwealth of Kentucky constructed the first five, from Carrollton to above Clifton and operated them until after the Civil War. The navigation was federalized in 1880 and The United States Army Corps of Engineers added nine more locks and dams, extending the network to Heidelberg near the confluence of the Three Forks at Beattyville.

In 1836 few engineering projects this large and this difficult had been attempted in America. It was completed over 80 years and cost over 5 million dollars for the construction alone. The railroads overtook river travel and the project was obsolete even before it was completed but continued to operate into the 20th century. In 1986 the Corp of Engineers began to pass ownership to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. When Lock No. 10 came under the Commonwealth’s ownership in 1996 the lock buildings (called a reservation) were restored.

The Lock and Dam

Lock No. 10

A paddlewheeler on the Kentucky River was a familiar site.

How the lock and dam function.

From flatboats to paddlewheelers all plied the Kentucky River.

Lock & Dam No. 5, Courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Louisville District.

An early photo from The US Army Corps of Engineers.

The museum includes copies of the log book kept by the lockmasters. It includes a daily look at the weather and the boats and travelers that came through the locks.

Display in the museum explaining the Kentucky River's role in settling and developing the area.

The Lockmaster's House

And The Walters Family

This is the original plan for the building. Today it is known as the River Museum. For many, many years it was the family home of The Walter's Family.

Members of the Walters Family at The DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) Monument of the Original Fort.

The Walters Family in the 1930’s. Because two generations of the Walters family lived in this home, they became known in the area as “the dam family.” John Walter came to work as a laborer here in 1906. He subsequently became a lockman then lockmaster as did his son John, Jr. The Walters family resided here from 1906 until John Jr. retired in 1975.

Today many family members have contributed items to restore the home as they remember it.

The Lockmaster's House while the Walters family were in residence.

Many bedrooms were necessary for the large family.

The handmade quilt was donated by the family so visitors get a feel for what the Lockmaster's house was like in years past.

A piano and shelves of books kept the large family busy.

The River Museum

The Lock and Dam

The Lockmaster's House

And The Walters Family

FORT BOONESBOROUGH LIVING HISTORY