Your Voice, Your History
The river carries countless stories—some told, some nearly lost to time. A Secret History of American River People is dedicated to listening, preserving, and sharing the voices of those who have lived and worked on the water. If you have a river story, we want to hear it.
Who We’re Looking For
We welcome stories from anyone whose life has been shaped by the river—longtime residents, boat dwellers, fishermen, barge workers, historians, environmentalists, and those simply passing through. Your experience, no matter how small, is part of a larger history.
Ways to Share Your Story
- Submit a written account – Share a memory, reflection, or historical insight in your own words.
- Record your voice – We’d love to hear your story told in your own voice. Audio recordings bring a richness to the archive.
- Share photos or documents – Old photographs, letters, or maps help paint a fuller picture of life along the river.
- Connect with us for an interview – If you’d like to sit down for a recorded oral history, we’d love to talk.
Why Your Story Matters
Too often, history is written by those in power, while the lives of ordinary people—people like you—go unrecorded. This project seeks to change that by creating an archive of lived experiences, a counter-history that speaks from the margins. By sharing your story, you ensure that these voices remain part of the ongoing conversation about our rivers, communities, and culture.
How to Contribute
You can submit a story below and we’ll follow up. If you have a written account, a recording, or photos, let us know and we’ll tell you how to get it to us.
If you’re unsure where to begin, we’ve provided a few guiding questions to help shape your story:
- What is your first memory of the river?
- How has the river shaped your life, your family, or your community?
- What has changed on the river in your lifetime?
- What is something about life on the river that outsiders wouldn’t understand?
Thank you for being part of this ongoing history. Every voice adds to the story.