First Commercially Successful Passenger Steamboat

Hudson River, New York City to Albany

Developed and launched in New York, the North River steamboat, later known as the Clermont, was the first commercially successful passenger steamboat. It was designed by Robert Fulton and funded by Robert R. Livingston. On August 17, 1807, it launched from New York City and traveled to Albany at approximately 5 miles per hour.

 

NY Firsts - Clermont steamboat
Clermont: Three Part Study of a Ship, watercolor by Richard Varick DeWitt, c. 1858. Albany Institute of History & Art Collection.

 

NY Firsts - Replica of Clermont steamboat
Steamer Clermont (replica) in 1909. Library of Congress.

 

NY Firsts - Robert Fulton steamboat inventor
Robert Fulton, c. 1881. Library of Congress.