Flatboat is a large, raftlike barge used to haul freight and passengers on such inland waterways as lakes, rivers, and canals. Historically, a flatboat had a flat bottom, vertical sides, and usually square ends. A keelboat, sometimes called a flatboat, was a long narrow craft, sharp at one or both ends. It was built on a simple keel (central fin) and ribs. These boats carried goods and people during the westward movement in the United States. Pioneers put their furniture and livestock on flatboats. The boats were moved by the current and by long oars that were also used for steering. After arriving at their destination, flatboats were commonly taken apart, and the hull planks and other timbers were reused for other purposes. A vast flatboat freight business grew on the Mississippi River and its tributaries in the 1800’s.
