The Steamboat Montana and the Opening of the West: History, Excavation, and Architecture

by Annalies Corbin, Bradley A. Rodgers

The Montana was a shining example of modern design and technological sophistication when it made its maiden voyage in 1879. But it is remembered for its ironic only five years after it was launched, the Montana struck a railroad bridge near Bridgeton, Missouri, and sank. One of the largest stern-wheel vessels ever to navigate a western river, the Montana was built to compete with railroads. The recent archaeological excavation of its wreckage, combined with a wealth of written and visual material documenting its construction and use, offers fascinating insights into a little-known aspect of Western expansion.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published August 3, 2008