Opened on March 16, 1941,[1] the museum celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2016.

The oldest remaining pilothouse is from the steamboat Tell City.

The steamboat was built in 1889 and used to carry passengers and freight on the Ohio River.

The pilothouse survived the sinking and is on display outside of the museum.

Partners in the new museum project include Ohio History Connection, Friends of the Museums dba Northwest Territory Museum Society, the Washington County Public Library and the Sons and Daughters of the Pioneer Rivermen.