River Discovery Center

River Discovery Center Stimulates curiosity and understanding of our nation's vital river system through real stories and interactive exhibits for people of all ages.

🌊 Paducah’s riverfront needs volunteers!On Saturday, June 6, we’re inviting the community to help clean up litter along ...
05/30/2026

🌊 Paducah’s riverfront needs volunteers!

On Saturday, June 6, we’re inviting the community to help clean up litter along the downtown riverfront during the Four Rivers Clean Sweep!

This is a simple, hands-on way to take pride in our river city and care for the waterways that shape Paducah’s history, economy and everyday life.

Meet at the River Discovery Center, grab coffee and donuts, then head out with other volunteers to help make a visible difference along the riverfront.

☕ Coffee + donuts
🧤 Downtown riverfront cleanup
🏆 Prize for the weirdest item found
💙 A meaningful morning for our community

📅 Saturday, June 6
📍 Meet at River Discovery Center, 117 S. Water St.
🕣 Check-in: 8:30 - 9 AM
🌊 Cleanup: 9 AM - 12 PM

Hosted in partnership with Kentucky Waterways Alliance, Tennessee RiverLine, One Mississippi, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), and Ohio River Basin Alliance.

TennesseeRiver RiverStewardship

🚢 While the Inland Marine Expo is wrapping up, the work is just beginning.This week, River Discovery Center Executive Di...
05/29/2026

🚢 While the Inland Marine Expo is wrapping up, the work is just beginning.

This week, River Discovery Center Executive Director Lindsey Launius joined marine industry leaders from across the country in Nashville to learn about emerging trends, workforce needs, technology, safety, and the future of our nation's waterways.

💡 Now it's time to bring those ideas home. Every conference attended, partnership formed, and conversation helps us create stronger exhibits, better educational experiences, and deeper connections between our visitors and the river industry that shapes our region.

🤝 We're grateful for the opportunity to learn from industry leaders and look forward to putting that knowledge to work here in Paducah.

🌊 Paducah’s riverfront needs volunteers!On Saturday, June 6, we’re inviting the community to help clean up litter along ...
05/27/2026

🌊 Paducah’s riverfront needs volunteers!

On Saturday, June 6, we’re inviting the community to help clean up litter along the downtown riverfront during the Four Rivers Clean Sweep!

This is a simple, hands-on way to take pride in our river city and care for the waterways that shape Paducah’s history, economy and everyday life.

Meet at the River Discovery Center, grab coffee and donuts, then head out with other volunteers to help make a visible difference along the riverfront.

☕ Coffee + donuts
🧤 Downtown riverfront cleanup
🏆 Prize for the weirdest item found
💙 A meaningful morning for our community

📅 Saturday, June 6
📍 Meet at River Discovery Center, 117 S. Water St.
🕣 Check-in: 8:30 - 9 AM
🌊 Cleanup: 9 AM - 12 PM

Hosted in partnership with Kentucky Waterways Alliance, Tennessee RiverLine, One Mississippi, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), and Ohio River Basin Alliance.

🔊 Last week, we shared that sometimes progress is loud. Today, we’re excited to show you one of the results.Our newest e...
05/25/2026

🔊 Last week, we shared that sometimes progress is loud. Today, we’re excited to show you one of the results.

Our newest exhibit, created in partnership with the Waterways Council, Inc., helps visitors better understand what’s actually moving through America’s inland waterways every single day.

As barges move across the screen, the exhibit reveals what each barge is carrying, from industrial materials and chemicals to agricultural products and energy resources. But it doesn’t stop there. It also explains how those materials connect to everyday life.

Many of the names may not sound familiar at first, but the exhibit helps tell the bigger story:

⚡ powering homes
🚗 building cars
🌽 supporting agriculture
🏥 creating medical products
📦 delivering goods people use every day

It’s fun, educational, and another step forward in making the river story more engaging and easier to connect to for visitors of all ages. 🌊

Now this is a way to arrive at the River Discovery Center. 😍🚗We spotted this stunning vintage Chevy truck parked outside...
05/23/2026

Now this is a way to arrive at the River Discovery Center. 😍🚗

We spotted this stunning vintage Chevy truck parked outside the museum, and couldn’t get over the classic lines and that incredible red interior. It felt like the perfect kickoff to Cars & Guitars happening downtown tonight from 4–8 PM.

From classic cars to towboats and river history, transportation has always helped shape communities like Paducah and keep America moving. We love seeing that spirit rolling down Broadway and S Water Street.

If you’re downtown tonight, enjoy the cars, the music, and the riverfront. 🌊🎸

🚢 We enjoyed welcoming the team from Waterfront Services Co. To the River Discovery Center for a tour of the museum and ...
05/22/2026

🚢 We enjoyed welcoming the team from Waterfront Services Co. To the River Discovery Center for a tour of the museum and some time driving the boat simulator along Paducah’s riverfront.

With Waterfront Services’ firsthand experience on the river, it was great to share conversations about the history of the inland waterways industry and the many new things happening at the museum as we continue adding new experiences and making improvements for our visitors and students.

Thank you, Waterfront Services, for spending time with us!

05/21/2026

Progress isn’t always quiet. Sometimes it sounds like tools, teamwork, and people willing to roll up their sleeves to make something new happen. 🔧

Our volunteer Rick Schipp has been helping bring a brand-new exhibit to life at the River Discovery Center, and we can’t wait to show you what’s coming next. Every improvement happening inside these walls is helping us create a better experience for our visitors, students, and community.

Stay tuned. Something new is coming soon. 👀

🚀 Before rockets reach space, they travel by river.Spotted on the Ohio River: United Launch Alliance’s R/S RocketShip, t...
05/19/2026

🚀 Before rockets reach space, they travel by river.

Spotted on the Ohio River: United Launch Alliance’s R/S RocketShip, the one-of-a-kind vessel that transports Atlas V and Vulcan rocket components from Decatur, Alabama, to launch sites in Florida and California.

The custom-built ship is 312 feet long, weighs nearly 19 million pounds, and is designed to travel both inland rivers and open ocean, making it the only U.S.-flagged vessel with that capability.

It even includes living quarters and dining space for a crew of 16, a heli-pad, machine shop, and sophisticated navigation systems onboard.

Its journey covers 2,642 river miles and more than 10,000 ocean miles.

The inland waterways don’t just move cargo. Sometimes, they help launch the future. 🌎🚀⚓

05/18/2026

Paducah’s connection to the river runs deep. ⚓

This weekend, maritime leaders, community members, and industry partners gathered at the The Seamen's Church Institute for the Propeller Club Port of Paducah, KY awards ceremony recognizing leadership, service, and the future of the inland waterways industry.

This recap video features highlights from the event, including recognition of Julie Harris and Randy Chamness, reflections on Paducah’s growing maritime presence, and why the future workforce of the river industry matters.

Watch the recap below. 🎥

Today we celebrated two outstanding leaders in the maritime industry during the Propeller Club Port of Paducah, KY award...
05/17/2026

Today we celebrated two outstanding leaders in the maritime industry during the Propeller Club Port of Paducah, KY awards ceremony at the The Seamen's Church Institute in Paducah. ⚓ ⚓

A special congratulations to former River Discovery Center Executive Director Julie Harris, who was honored as Port Person of the Year for her decades of leadership, mentorship, and commitment to connecting future generations to our inland waterways.

This photo represents more than a celebration. It represents generations of women helping shape the future of our river community. 💙

Stay tuned tomorrow as we share video highlights and interviews with this year’s award recipients, including Julie Harris and Randy Chamness.

Pictured left to right: Lindsey Launius, Executive Director, River Discovery Center; Christa White, RDC Board Member (Ingram Barge); Julie Harris, former Executive Director, River Discovery Center; Patrice Hoffman, RDC Board Member (The Waterways Journal); Olivia Petter, RDC Board Member (Petter Supply); and Deb Calhoun, RDC Board Member (Waterways Council, Inc.).

Address

117 S Water Street
Paducah, KY
42001

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5pm
Friday 9:30am - 5pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+12705759958

Website

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