From pre-colonial times to the post-industrial age, rivers have shaped the course of American history and culture. Take a fascinating historical journey down the greatest rivers in the United States and learn how they have influenced the people and communities that live and work on them. The histories of these rivers include many of the notable names in American history, such as Lewis & Clark, John Colter, Zebulon Pike, and Tecumseh. Thomas Jefferson called the Ohio River the most beautiful river in the world. Today, the nearly one thousand miles of the Ohio is one of the most heavily populated and industrialized river systems in America.