Why This Work Needs You
Every journey down the river is more than a trip—it’s an act of remembering. A Secret History of American River People is about listening to the voices of river people, folks who know what it means to live close to the water, to adapt, to survive, to hold onto what matters.
For over a decade, we’ve traveled thousands of miles by shantyboat, meeting the people who live and work along America’s rivers. We sit on porches and docks, in fishing boats and floating homes, recording their stories before they disappear.
This work is independent, grassroots, and built on relationships. It’s also a project that takes real resources—fuel, supplies, boat repairs, archival materials, and the time to travel and listen. If you believe in the power of stories to keep history alive, to make us feel less alone, to remind us who we are—consider supporting this work.
Ways to Support
Support looks different for everyone. Maybe you can pitch in once, maybe a little every month, maybe you’ve got gear to share or stories to tell. However you choose to be part of this project—it matters. Here are a few ways to help keep the boat afloat:
Direct Financial Support
This project is fueled by a mix of museum partnerships, small grants, and personal donations from people like you. The reality? The largest single source of our funding comes from individuals—people who believe in storytelling, community history, and the power of art.
Support our annual Kickstarter campaign
Each year, we launch a campaign to fund the next leg of the journey. If you like the excitement of backing a big push, this is for you.
Make a one-time donation
A single contribution helps cover immediate costs—whether it’s fuel for the boat, archival materials, or exhibition expenses.
Join our crew with ongoing support
This project happens year-round. Monthly donors provide the stability that lets us plan future expeditions and exhibitions. Even a few dollars a month makes a difference.
Help Outfit the Shantyboat
Keeping a floating field station running takes more than just money—it takes gear. Tools, materials, safety equipment, archival supplies. Each year, supporters have sent everything from solar panels to books for the onboard library.
Send Supplies – Wish List & Equipment Needs
Want to help in a hands-on way? Check out our wishlist of specific items we need for the next journey.
Share Your River Connections
This project is built on relationships—the people who live and work on the water, whose stories shape the history of these rivers. Some of our most important interviews have happened because a friend of a friend pointed us in the right direction.
Help us find river connections
Do you know someone with deep ties to the river? A historian, a former shantyboater, a dock worker, a river guide? Someone whose voice should be part of this archive? Let us know.
Acknowledgements
None of this happens alone. We are deeply grateful to the supporters, collaborators, and institutions that have made this project possible. Every backer, every shared resource, every introduction—it all adds up.
See who helps make this project possible: Our acknowledgments.