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Rabbit Hash Steamboat Bicentennial Celebration
by Don Clare

On Saturday, October 29th from noon until 6:00 P.M. a special Steamboat Bicentennial event will take place in the tiny Ohio River hamlet of Rabbit Hash, Kentucky. The town will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of the very first steamboat that was able to travel this section of the river system under its own power. The New Orleans, named for its ultimate destination, was designed and built on the headwaters of the Ohio by Nicholas Roosevelt and was the very first steam-powered riverboat to accomplish its intended feat. Little did Roosevelt know that he would single-handedly change forever the lives of Americans. Transportation and commerce would never be the same. The conquest of up-river travel by his steamboat was akin to our lifetime’s moon landing. 1811 began the new birth of communication and interaction between Americans over time and space. What used to take weeks and even months on foot or horseback suddenly took just days and even hours. It had an impact on the lives of Americans unlike anything ever before.

In honor of this life changing achievement, the Rabbit Hash Historical Society and the town of Rabbit Hash is sponsoring this final outdoor event of the year. There will be food, beverage, music and entertainment all day long. The day kicks off with original river-related songs by local resident Don Clare. At one o’clock, retired Army Corps of Engineers Historian Chuck Parrish will present a special lecture and video of the New Orleans and the Age of Steamboats. At 2:00 P.M. enjoy the late 1800s music of the gals of Raison d’être in full period costume. Not only is 2011 the bicentennial year of the steamboat, it also marks the Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War, and the girls will be performing Civil War selections as well. The steamboat played a major role in the war for both the Union and the Confederacy, so this combined commemoration event is even more significant.

Patrons are highly encouraged to dress in period costumes of the 1800s, Civil War, pioneers, steamboaters and Victorian era, up to and including the turn of the century and the end of the steamboat era. All costumed participants will be invited to pose for a group portrait in front of the National Register historic Rabbit Hash General Store which will be made into postcards and posters for purchase in time for Christmas.

At three o’clock there will be another river lecture in the main barn about river life during the steamboat days, covering the Ohio River from Cincinnati to Louisville. All day long in the LLSVAC Art Gallery as well as in the Rabbit Hash museum, there will be on display paintings, prints, and photographs of steamboats by artists Tom Gaither, Michael Blaser, and others. Tom Gaither will be on hand all day to sell his steamboat prints for early Christmas shoppers.

Also during the day there will be a table of local authors selling and signing their books. These include Bridget Striker (Lost River Towns of Boone County); Callie Clare (Potions and Notions: The Legacy of Rabbit Hash, Kentucky); Doc Baker (The Wit and Wisdom of Doc Baker); Robert Schrage (Along the Ohio River and Boone County: Now and Then); Chuck Parrish (The Age of Steamboats); and perhaps others. Remember, all day long patrons can shop at the Rabbit Hash General Store for gifts and souvenirs; the Rabbit Hash Mercantile for antiques, collectibles, vintage clothing, and plants and decorations; the Scalded Hog with their famous barbeque and fried cabbage with additional festival choices; Elk Creek Winery for their very last weekend of the season for great holiday wine needs and gifts. Every building will be open with something special and unique to offer. And displays and demonstrations will be dotting the town.

Then at 4:00 P.M., performing on the new outdoor stage, Buffalo Ridge Jazz Band will be entertaining with steamboating Dixieland Jazz and New Orleans Jazz musical selections and dancing for the next two hours to close out the day. Be sure to mark your calendars and join us for this once-in-our-lifetime event and celebration. The event is free to the public. However, donations are requested and encouraged to help defray the costs. A raffle of the print by Tom Gaither entitled The Belle of Cincinnati at Rabbit Hash will be on-going throughout the day. Tom graciously donated the matted print to help with expenses. Second and third prizes in the raffle include BB Riverboat Cruises, donated by BB Riverboats. Raffle tickets for these spectacular river related prizes are on sale right now in the Rabbit Hash General Store and are $1.00 each. A free raffle ticket will be given at the gates for everyone offering a donation.