Scenic Southeastern Ohio - The Most Scenic Drives in America: 120 Spectacular Road Trips - page 662

ily farms, small towns, and four of the old-time spans, one of which you can drive
across. Here and there the road climbs ridges that provide sweeping views until, 44
miles later, the drive reaches its end in lovely Woodsfield.
5. Muskingum River Parkway
Living history of another kind but from the same era can be found at McConnelsville, a
former steamboat town. Boats on the Muskingum River still sound their horns as they ap-
proach the McConnelsville lock. Built more than 150 years ago and operated by hand, it is
one of 10 similar locks that were built from 1837 to 1841 in order to tame the unpredict-
able river and accommodate the crush of steamboat traffic traveling between the towns of
Dresden and Marietta.
The river and its historic lock system can be toured via the Muskingum River Parkway
(Rtes. 376, 266, and 60). Six of the early marvels of engineering, counting the one in
McConnelsville, are situated at intervals along the way. From bankside picnic areas you
willlikelywatchthepassingprocessionofcruisers,houseboats,motorboats,andothercraft
as they glide across waters that once were churned by smoke-belching paddle wheelers.
6. Marietta
On the approach to Marietta, you will be following in the footsteps of John Chapman,
who adopted the name Johnny Appleseed to honor his life's ambition. The legendary fig-
ure—according to most accounts, a true eccentric in ways more than horticultural—was a
tireless planter of apple trees in the early 19th century.
The Muskingum River empties into the Ohio River at Marietta. Founded in 1788 by
veterans of the Revolutionary War, this appealing riverfront city was the first American
settlement in the Northwest Territory, and in the steamboat era it became a major port and
shipbuilding center. A vintage steamboat is on display at the Ohio River Museum, and the
ValleyGemSternwheeler,offersregularexcursionsupanddowntheOhioandMuskingum
rivers.