Sidewheelers
Sidewheelers, or side-wheel steamers, are steam-powered vessels propelled by large paddle wheels mounted on the sides of the hull. They were common on inland waterways and coastal routes in the 19th century, especially on the Mississippi and Ohio river systems and on the Great Lakes.
Design and propulsion: A sidewheeler carries a pair of large paddle wheels, one on each side of
Operational use and history: Sidewheelers were favored for riverine freight and passenger service during the early
Decline and legacy: With advances in propulsion and hull design, screw-propelled steamers and more versatile hulls