The Steamboat Era saw few African-American entrepreneurs succeed in the risky business of steamboat ownership. Yet Hansford C. Bayton defied the odds: He became the captain and co-owner of five steamboats while fighting against the rising tide of racial discrimination in early 20th century tidewater Virginia.

Enter another era by stepping aboard the Potomac Pilothouse, the largest remaining artifact from a Chesapeake Bay steamboat.  Turn the wheel, ring the bell, and learn about the history of the Potomac, her crew, and passengers.

Discover the lives of the children who lived in the Northern Neck of Virginia during the Steamboat Era.