Four of the museum's galleries trace the evolution of transportation on the river from the earliest canoes through the golden age of steamboats and finally to modern diesel towboats. The search for more efficient transportation and the economic impact of river transportation played a vital role in the development of trade routes and the growth of river cities.

Examples of the museum's collection in these galleries are:

• Boat Building Tools
• Boat models including full scale Packet Boat
• Cargo
• Victorian Furniture
• Pilothouse equipment
• Towboat Pilot House