In 1811, the New Orleans was the first steamboat launched on the Mississippi. Soon, steamboats were going up and down the river at faster and faster speeds.
In 1817, it took 25 days for a steamboat to go from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Louisville, Kentucky. That’s around 600 miles. In 1827, it only took ten days. Steamboats were perfect for river travel. They floated high in the water. So, they didn’t get stuck when the water level was low. Most steamboats were just for work. They were built to move goods and people. But some of them were built for passengers who wanted to live it up.
