Steamboat Landing

Overview

Locale: The Levee in St. Louis, Missouri The location of St. Louis made it second only to New Orleans as a center of steam boating. From the levee, the packets began their long trip up the Missouri, or in either direction on the broad Mississippi. Hundreds thronged the landing to watch the “Robert E. Lee” win its famous race with the “Natchez.” Others came to savor the excitement of gunboats in times of war and showboats in times of peace.