The first steamboat to voyage from Marietta to Zanesville via the Muskingum River was the RUFUS PUTNAM. This historic occurrence happened over 180 years ago (from 2003) though there is a controversy whether the year was 1820 or 1824. However, since that time there have been more than 200 steamboats making the same journey. So far as the records show, the following steamers have plied the Muskingum River since the 1820's and was excerpted from an article published in THE ZANESVILLE SIGNAL,Friday, March 17, 1941 edition.

For those who might be interested in viewing the complete article, the Ohio Historical Society in Columbus, Ohio has newspaper microfilm which can be borrowed through inter-library loan. Also, the Muskingum County Genealogical Society has microfilm copies of local area newspapers. These can be viewed in the John McIntire Library in Zanesville, Ohio.

 The article is titled: MORE THAN 200 STEAMBOATS HAVE PLIED RIVER SINCE VOYAGE OF THE RUFUS PUTNAM.

1820's

Rufus Putnam

1830's

Itaska
Little Zanesville`

1840's

Coquette	Queen	Dresden	Mingo Chief	Relief
Mary Ann	Phil Lodridge	Tuscarawas	Hail Columbia	Lelia Putnam
Ne Plus Ultra	Little Sallie	Aetna	Rhode Island	McIntire
Viroqua	Wilmington	Luella	Octorara	G. L. Newman
Pinta	Ludlow	Indian	Beaver	Swallow
Belle Zane	Return	Salmon	Enterprise	Zanesville Packet
Muskingum Valley	Moxahala	Friendship	Skipper	Clarion 2nd
May Queen	Walhonding	Endeavor	Firestone	Ohio
Newark	Comet	Pioneer

1850's

Two Sisters	John Bissell	Johnny Lind	John Buck	Peytona
Silver Heels	Julia Dean	Alice Belle	Lowell	Jonas Powell
Helen Mar	Loyal Hanna	Freedom	Malta	Dan Converse
Charley Bowen	Pacific	Del Norte	Hudson	Robt. Wrightman
Nebraska	Cheviot	Emma Graham	Freighter	Lizzie Martin
Kate Cassell	Monongahela	Brown Dick	R. H. Lindsey	Buckeye Belle
Empress	James Watt	Zanesville	Malta	Adelia
St. Cloud	Allegheny Clipper

1860's

Emma Graham	Mink	Carrie Brooks	Charlie Potwin	J. H. Best
D. M. Sechler	T. J. Pickett	L.N. Galbaugh	Leslie Combs	Nymph
U. S. Aid	Progress	Juno	Dime	Pomeroy
Julia	Pilgrim	Science	Julia No. 2	Tom Patten
Jesse Edgington	Alex Spear	Falcon	Oil City	Elk
Laura

1870's

Lizzie Cassell	Wm. Fox	Mineota	Emma Uhl	Fawn
Oelia	Argo	Wort	Bernard	Eagle
Willie Austin	T. D. Dale	Gen. Wilds	Hawk	J. H. Hubbell
Tom Hackney	Swan	Ida	C. F. Shepard	L. C. McCormick
Germ	Mary D	Scout	Gen. H. F. Devol	Malta
Marietta	Enterprise	Jay Hawk	Mink No. 2	Wildwood
Arrowline	Beverly	Gen. R. R. Dawes	Prairie City	Naomi
Louie Blandy	Thanhouser	Starr

1880's

Valley Belle	Sonoma	Mary H.	Olivette	Bessie Siler
Iron King	Henry Logan	Ingomar	Good Intent	Harry Knox
E. R. Phillips	J. Hetherington	J. H. McConnell	Burnsides	Buckeye Boy
Sucess	S. R. Van Metre	Princess	J. W. Camden	Obenchain
Houston Combs	Geo. Strecker	Vera Vita

1890's

Annie Laurie	Hiawatha	Highland Mary	Troubadour	Marie E
Leroy	Hazel Rise	Barnesdile	Ida Smith	H. B. Kendle
Mary H.	Valley Gem	Jim McConnell	C. O.	Water Maiden
Ada V.	H. D. Munson	Jewel	Lorena	Florence
T. M. Bayne	Emma	Oneida	Zanetta

1900's

Evening Star	Red Rover	Clarion	Yankee	U. S. Grant
Shipper	Lizzie Marie	Oil Hunter	S. P. Wells	Putnam

Miscellaneous

Monitor	Globe	Veteran	J. R. King	Swallow
Rhoda	Buck	Igo	Liberty	Gen. Beach
Gen. Wood	Undine	Defiance	J. B. Gordon	Caroline
S. P. Wells	Nimrod	T.P. Ray