The Ocklawaha River was a popular transportation route in the late 1800s for steamboats traveling between Palatka and Silver Springs, visited by famous figures like Harriet Beecher Stowe. Narrow steamboats navigated the winding river. Railroad service to Ocala in 1881 declined the popularity of the river route to Silver Springs. The document provides photos depicting various scenes around Florida from 1882 to 1903, including steamboats, towns, plantations, and military ships, giving a glimpse into life in early Florida.