New Richmond, Ohio: Cardboard Boat Museum, Race

Small towns all over the USA represent the core character of America. New Richmond's location on the Ohio River bank adds a hint of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer nostalgia to the mix.

The New Richmond on the Ohio Cardboard Boat Regatta and the three day RiverDays event bring families from the Tri-State and beyond together for a weekend of unusual and unique river competition and celebration.

The 2010 Cardboard Boat Race included 50 incredible hand-crafted boats and water vehicles, substantially adding to the previous year's entries, resulting in standing room only for the spectators. Racers ages ranged from 8-72 years old and we have had crews of 1- 6 in single and multi-crew boats...we expect even more competitors in 2011.

Visit the World's ONLY Cardboard Boat Museum.

The World's Only Cardboard Boat Museum displays a unique and creative collection of 20+ boats built using only cardboard, tape and paint. Displays include the Bat Boat, School Bus, Easter Basket, and a giant coffee cup. The boats are crewed by 1-6 people and have raced in Regattas in New Richmond, Detroit, Galesburg, Illinois -- and other exotic places (Cardboard boat races occur all over the world). The "New Richmond on the Ohio" regatta is in its 17th year, with racers and teams traveling from as far away as Finland.

The museum offers classes in building cardboard boats, and student tours. Nominal donations are suggested to support the museum. A custom designed "paddle wheel boat" is being raffled off to support the non-profit museum and will race in the NEW "Small Stacks" Class this year...we have 20 trophies and race categories including the coveted Titanic Award, a crowd favorite, for the most dramatic sinking.

The Race is August 22, 2009 in New Richmond, Ohio at 1 PM...held during the New Richmond RiverDays annual 3-day celebration.

Visit the World's only Cardboard Boat Museum...celebrating the 16th annual Cardboard Boat Regatta in New Richmond on the Ohio. The museum is operated by a volunteer staff offering student and adult tours, workshops, and opportunities to discover the art of building and racing boats constructed solely out of cardboard, duct tape and paint.

The racing includes students and adults, single and multi crewed boats (up to 6 people to date).

Team Lemon, nationally recognized builders and racers, have curated the museum since its grand opening in September 2006.

The annual August event attracts teams comprised of youth groups, adult boating clubs, individuals and families competing on 200 yard course down the Ohio River. The boats are constructed using only corrugated cardboard, duct tape and paint and "human powered" by one to six crew members. Some of the more unusual craft entered over the past 13 years have included: a six passenger locomotive, a 15-ft. dragster, a five-crew seaplane, a five-passenger Viking longship, two Harley Davidson replica motorcycles, a stealth airplane, a five-ft. snapping turtle, and a slew of boats built for speed as well as creativity. We typically get 20-30 entrants each year. We offer cash prizes, cool trophies and a Titanic award for the most dramatic sinking.

The event is always fun, the spectators love it, and the event is always a crowd pleaser during our annual 3-day, RiverDays Festival in August.