"When Deadly Steamboat Races Enthralled America" Topic

"During the 19th century, hundreds of steamboats traversed America's waterways, carrying passengers faster and more luxuriously than ever before.

"The steamboat was the first American invention of world-shaking importance," wrote historian James Thomas Flexner in 1944. In fact, he added, it "was one of those crucial inventions that change the whole cultural climate of the human race."…"

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Armand

Was it an American invention?

Let's see, a race, in which civilian passengers would ride the vehicles racing, that if the steam boiler blew (a not uncommon occurrence) all the passengers would get burnt/drowned/scalded! Sounds like a American invention.

Hey, Eclectic Wave, smile when you say that!

(smile)

Armand

The steam engine was invented in England (interestingly, initially for pumping out flooded mines) but the steam boat was most certainly invented in the US by Robert Fulton

I remember seeing the race between the Robert E. Lee and the Natchez performed on "Captain Kangaroo" when I was a young kid.

Some time back maybe 20 years ago I scratchbuilt some 1/600 steamboats for a friend who used them for steamboat race games at one of the bigger conventions. I had pictures once but they are long gone sadly.

Thanks

Armand