.
Paddle wheel steamboats docked at the new Louisville waterfront on the Ohio River, May 1972
The beautiful river Ohio, bounds Kentucke in its whole length, being a mile and sometimes less in breadth, and is sufficient to carry boats of great burthen. Its general course is south 60 degrees west; and in its course it receives numbers of large and small rivers, which pay tribute to its glory.
John Filson (c. 1747-1788), in The Discovery, Settlement and Present State of Kentucke (1784)
John Filson (c. 1747-1788), in The Discovery, Settlement and Present State of Kentucke (1784)
Picnic on the Ohio River, May 1972
![]()
Small pleasure craft goes aground on banks of the Ohio River, June 1972
![]()
Participant in the Louisville Spring Regatta, June 1972
![]()
Participant in the Louisville Spring Regatta, June 1972
![]()
The Ohio River, June 1972
![]()
Boaters unload canoe near the Ohio River, September 1972
![]()
The Ohio River, June 1972
Small pleasure craft goes aground on banks of the Ohio River, June 1972
Participant in the Louisville Spring Regatta, June 1972
Participant in the Louisville Spring Regatta, June 1972
The Ohio River, June 1972
Boaters unload canoe near the Ohio River, September 1972
The Ohio River, June 1972
A liquid chlorine barge, after breaking loose from its tug, became lodged against the McAlpine dam on the Ohio River and could not be set free, Louisville, Kentucky, March 1972
Shop evacuated when a barge carrying liquid chlorine threatened to spill its poisonous contents. Liquid chlorine is stored under pressure, and if a leak occurs, it changes into a poisonous gas. The barge carried enough liquid chlorine to devastate much of the City of Louisville, April 1972
The streets of the Louisville waterfront area, Portland, deserted following evacuation. A barge carrying liquid chlorine had broken loose from its tug on the Ohio River and was in danger of spilling the poisonous contents, March 1972
Louisville mayor Frank Burke ordered 4800 residents of the waterfront area known as Portland to evacuate, April 1972
A worried mother and her child leave Louisville by bus after the city was evacuated, March 1972
A nurse helps an elderly patient leave Louisville Memorial Hospital during the evacuation, March 1972
Burning barge on the Ohio River, May 1972
Automobile junkyard can be seen from high rise buildings in downtown Louisville, September 1972
Smog over Louisville and Ohio River, September 1972
Smog hangs over Louisville and Ohio River, September 1972
Smog, Louisville, September 1972
Smog lingers over Louisvile skyline, September 1972
Magazines and newspapers litter a downtown Louisville street after debris was spilled from a passing truck, September 1972
Magazines and newspapers litter the intersection of Sixth and Broadway, Louisville, after debris was spilled from a passing truck, September 1972
Pool hall, Louisville, April 1972
Pool hall, Louisville, Kentucky, June 1972
Belle of Louisiana, a paddlewheel steamboat owned by Louisville and Jefferson County, May 1972
Wedding on the Belle of Louisiana, May 1972
Bride and groom at wedding reception on the Belle of Louisiana steamboat, May 1972
Steamboat on the Ohio River, June 1972
Paddlewheel steamboats seen from the banks of the Ohio River, May 1972
The Ohio River, September 1972
The Ohio River, May 1972
Litter left in the Ohio River, June 1972
Photos by William Hall "Bill" Strode (b. Louisville, Kentucky 5 August 1937, d. Versailles, Kentucky 15 May 2006) for the Environmental Protection Agency's DOCUMERICA Project(U.S. National Archives)