Afloat on the Ohio An Historical Pilgrimage of a Thousand Miles in a Skiff, from Redstone to Cairo

"Afloat on the Ohio" by Reuben Gold Thwaites is a late 1800s story about an adventurous trip down the Ohio River. The author, along with his family and a friend, travels a thousand miles on a skiff called "Pilgrim." The story isn't just about the pretty scenery; it also looks at the history and the different towns along the river. The book starts by introducing the travelers and why they wanted to go on this journey; this includes his wife, his son, and a doctor. He talks about leaving from a place called Brownsville, Pennsylvania, and shares the history of important places like Redstone Creek, which was a big deal in early America. The author paints a picture of the river with factories and also the busy life around it, getting readers ready to learn about the Ohio River and why it's important in history.