Towboat Ferry Added To Historic Register

The Moro Bay Ferry, which operated on the Ouachita River in Bradley County, Ark., was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places along with five Arkansas properties built in the 1960s. Moro Bay Ferry was a towboat and barge built by the Barbour Metal Boat Works, St. Louis, Mo., in 1965. The ferry now resides in Moro Bay State Park.

“From 1828 onwards, the ferry played a significant role in allowing travelers to cross the Ouachita River at Moro Bay and be able to more easily travel in the area that is today Bradley and Union counties,” according to the National Register nomination. “Although the ferry suspended its operations in 1948, the importance of the crossing as a transportation link is illustrated by the fact that the Arkansas State Highway Commission reinstated ferry service in 1965.

“The Moro Bay Ferry allowed for a more direct route between Warren and El Dorado, which did not necessitate going to Calion to cross the Ouachita River, and also allowed for a shorter travel time between the two towns. The importance of the crossing was also illustrated by the fact that the ferry was replaced by a bridge in 1992,” said the statement.