Story of the building of the ships and the battles fought by them, including an account of "the famous battle between the Monitor and the Merrimac at Hampton Roads, Virginia, on March 9, 1862"--Foreword.
Surveys the golden era of steamboats, from 1800-1875. Photographs and text describe the Mississippi River, and the captains and passengers of the steamboats.
Follows the journey of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark up the Missouri River to the Pacific as they charted the vast territory of the Louisiana Purchase. Illustrated with photographs, and original maps, drawings, paintings and documents characterizing the period.