Valley Gem Sternwheeler

In 1788 a group of New England veterans of the Revolutionary War, organized as the Ohio Company of Associates, came down the Ohio River and founded Marietta at the mouth of the Muskingum. It was the first organized American settlement in the Northwest Territory, the enormous region north and west of the Ohio River that would be carved into Ohio and several other states.

The land the settlers arrived on was the ancestral homeland of the Shawnee, Lenape, Wyandot, and other Native nations, later forcibly removed from Ohio, whose descendant nations continue today, largely in Oklahoma. Marietta's founders laid out a town that still reads as a New England grid transplanted to the frontier, and even built earthwork mounds left by the ancient Adena and Hopewell cultures into their town plan. The rivers were the highway that made all of it possible, which is exactly what a sternwheeler cruise puts back at the center of the story.

For much of the 1800s the paddlewheel steamboat was the great engine of American river commerce. Boats driven by a wheel at the stern were well suited to the shallow, shifting western rivers, and they carried settlers, cargo, and mail along the Ohio and its tributaries, tying frontier towns like Marietta to the wider country. The rhythmic churn of the paddlewheel was the sound of the river age.

The Valley Gem carries on that tradition, a working sternwheeler that keeps the craft and the feel of river travel alive for modern visitors. Watching the wheel turn and the water fall away behind it, you get a direct sense of how people and goods once moved through this country before railroads and highways took over.

A cruise glides out from the Marietta dock onto the Ohio, the Muskingum, or both, giving passengers a slow, sweeping view of the town's historic riverfront and the confluence where the two rivers meet. The wooded Appalachian hills rise on either side, and the water reflects the changing sky, so even a familiar stretch of river looks new from the deck of the boat.

The pace is gentle and the mood relaxed, a chance to sit back and watch the shoreline slide by while learning something of the river history that shaped Marietta. Different cruises through the season offer different experiences, from simple sightseeing runs to themed and evening sailings out on the open water.

The sternwheeler operates on a warm-season schedule, so spring through fall is the time to catch a cruise. Spring can run high with river water and greening hills, a dramatic time on the rivers, though the season sometimes affects sailings. Summer is the fullest stretch, with warm evenings ideal for a cruise on the open water.

Fall is a highlight, when the wooded Appalachian hills along the rivers turn gold and red and the color reflects off the water. Once cold weather sets in the boat lays up for the season, so a river cruise here is very much a warm-weather pleasure. Since it runs on a calendar and depends on the weather, check the schedule before you go.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

The Valley Gem Sternwheeler, in Marietta in southeastern Ohio, is a charming sternwheel riverboat offering scenic cruises on the Ohio and Muskingum rivers, evoking the golden age of river travel. The classic sternwheeler, powered by its paddle wheel, carries passengers on relaxing sightseeing cruises past the historic riverfront of Marietta and the scenic river country, with narration on the history and sights, along with special dinner and themed cruises. Riding the sternwheeler is a delightful and nostalgic way to experience the rivers that shaped Marietta's history. A charming and nostalgic riverboat, it delights visitors. With its river cruises, the Valley Gem offers a compelling destination in Ohio.

You can take a relaxing scenic cruise on the Ohio and Muskingum rivers aboard the classic sternwheeler, enjoy views of historic Marietta's riverfront and the scenic river country, listen to narration on the history and sights, and, on some trips, enjoy dinner or themed cruises. The scenic river cruise, the historic sternwheeler, the views of Marietta, and the narration are the draws, making it a delightful and nostalgic outing. Gliding along the rivers by paddle wheel is the highlight. With its cruises, the Valley Gem offers a rewarding experience in Marietta, Ohio.

The Valley Gem Sternwheeler operates seasonally, generally in the warm months, with regular sightseeing cruises and special dinner and themed trips, so late spring through early fall is the time to ride, when the river country is at its best. Because it runs a seasonal schedule and popular cruises can fill up, checking the current schedule and reserving ahead before you go are wise. For a cruise, plan a warm-months visit and reserve ahead on the Valley Gem Sternwheeler in Ohio.

Yes, the Valley Gem Sternwheeler is a fun and relaxing family outing, with the scenic river cruise, the classic paddle-wheel boat, and the narration offering an enjoyable and nostalgic experience for children and adults alike. The novelty of riding a sternwheeler and watching the paddle wheel especially delights kids. Its gentle, scenic cruises suit all ages. Its family appeal makes the Valley Gem Sternwheeler a delightful destination in Ohio.

The Valley Gem Sternwheeler is in Marietta in southeastern Ohio, at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, within reach of the Campus Martius Museum, historic Marietta, and the routes along the Ohio River. That makes the Valley Gem Sternwheeler a delightful stop to combine with the Campus Martius Museum and the other attractions of Marietta on a visit to Ohio.