by Doug Alderson
August 3, 2025–Not only is Chattahoochee’s River Landing Park beautiful, it is historic, going back thousands of years. And for the last several years, it’s the place where our annual RiverTrek begins, so it has sentimental value for those of us who have paddled the river in its entirety. That’s one reason Apalachicola Riverkeeper held a cleanup at the park August 2, one of several we have held over the years.
A small but mighty crew of four picked up about eight bags of trash, and one volunteer did some cleanup the day before. The morning was hot and muggy, but to see the riverside and large temple mound free of litter elicited a warm feeling. And it is heartening know that the fish line and other debris we picked up won’t be entangling wildlife or washing into the main river system during high water.
Since water levels were low, a highlight for me was to walk along the river among the wooden ribs and keels of steamboats that once plied the river. The area has been labeled “Florida’s Inland Graveyard of Ships” by marine archeologists, and for good reason. The concentration of early vessels here is one of the largest in the United States since this shoreline was once a bustling wharf. A strong current and a twist in the river before the Jim Woodruff Dam forced many vessels to run aground, sometimes atop one another.
Besides goods and passengers, soldiers and military supplies were loaded or unloaded at Chattahoochee (called Mount Vernon in the early days), since the town had an active federal arsenal during the Second Seminole War and Civil War. Today, the Apalachicola Arsenal is now a museum and conference center surrounded by the massive Florida State Hospital, the state’s first psychiatric hospital, established in 1876. Still in operation, it is the city’s primary employer.
So, I encourage you to visit River Landing Park to wet a line, launch a boat, and view the many historical interpretive signs. And please do your part to keep this historic park clean.
Learn more about Chattahoochee’s history here.
Apalachicola Riverkeeper is an independent, non-profit advocacy organization founded in 1998. Your financial gift fuels our fight to defend the Apalachicola River. Together, let’s work to protect and restore the Apalachicola River. Please donate today to fund our essential work on behalf of the Apalachicola River, Floodplain, and Bay.
