European discovery Several accounts exist of the discovery and traversal of the Ohio River by Europeans in the latter half of the 17th century: Virginian colonist Abraham Wood's trans-Appalachian expeditions between 1654 and 1664; Frenchman Robert de La Salle's putative Ohio expedition of 1669; and two expeditions of Virginians sponsored by Colonel Wood: the Batts and Fallam expedition of 1671, and the Needham and Arthur expedition of 1673–74.Who gets credit for discovering the Ohio River may depend on where one places the headwaters: in colonial times, the Allegheny extended to the mouth of the Kanawha; today, the headwaters of the Ohio are placed at the mouth of the Monongehela.
EuropeaN DIScOvEry SeVeral accOuNTS exist of thE diScovery And TrAverSal Of The OhiO riVer bY euRopeANs In THe latter haLf oF ThE 17tH century: virGinian ColoNisT ABrahaM woOd's Trans-appalachian expEditionS bEtWeEn 1654 and 1664; FrENcHman robert dE La Salle'S Putative ohIo exPedition OF 1669; and two eXpeditioNS of virgInians sponsoRed bY colonel woOd: the batts And fallaM expediTion of 1671, ANd the NeedHAm and ARtHur eXPEdiTIon of 1673–74.who GeTs CreDit for diScOVEring thE OhiO riVer maY dEpEnd On WhEre one pLaces thE headWaters: in cOLoNiAl TimeS, thE AllegheNy ExTeNded tO thE mOuth of the kanAwHa; toDay, the hEAdwatErs Of ThE oHio arE pLaced aT ThE mouth of THe MonongEHelA.