Ollie Neville Ferry
Before a trolley carried visitors across the river, an excursion could begin at Broadway Wharf. The Ollie Neville ferry belongs to the story of the Ohio as a route to recreation.
From the wharf to the grove
Park historian Joseph A. Comm identifies Broadway Wharf as the departure point for the Ollie Neville, carrying excursionists toward Rock Springs across the river. His account preserves a small but useful detail: the outing started at a working waterfront. Visitors joined a landscape already shaped by boats, cargo and the movement of people.
Reading the river city
The 1875 bird’s-eye illustration shown here helps locate that older relationship between streets and river. It is context for the waterfront, not a verified picture of the Ollie Neville. Alongside the later trolley photographs, it shows how changing transport could change the experience of a day out. A precise service timetable and the vessel’s full operating dates have not been established.
Story sources
Published story & visitor information ↗
Published story & visitor information ↗
Story reviewed 2026-10-04. Confirm current access directly.