FUN WITH MAPS ISSUE 2026-135

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (August 17, 2026) – In Fun with Maps today, we learn of the humble beginnings and short lifespan of steamboat travel in the 19th century

FLOATING PALACES

The first steamboat passengers traveled 150 miles up the Hudson River from New York City to Albany on August 17, 1807.  It took 32 hours, averaging a speed of about 5 miles an hour.

Regular passenger service began on the North River Steamboat, later known as The Clermont, shortly afterward with fares of 5 cents per mile.

Robert Fulton’s invention allowed upstream travel that turned transportation time from months to days for towns along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.  A steamboat’s shallow body meant that it only needed about 3 feet of water to navigate.  Still sandbars were a challenge and, along with fires and explosions, were reasons that steamboats generally had a short lifespan of about 5 years.

Tanner’s pocket map of New York state is presented here from 1847.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps. Be sure to visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Antique Maps & Fun Facts here on Loveland Beacon.