Steamboats in Louisiana
Robert Fulton started the very first commercially successful steamboat service in America. His steam-powered paddleboat, the Clermont, sailed up the Hudson River from New York City to Albany in August of 1807. This trip lasted 32 hours The first steamboats were demonstrated in1787. They were used on the river ways to bring cargo, cotton, sugar, and people to their destinations. The steamboat played a major part in the population growth. The steamboats were usually made of wood and were all kinds of sizes. They looked like giant floating houses with large smokestacks and paddlewheels. They were used for carrying people and supplies up and down the river. Steamboats were later used as show boats for entertainment. The purchase of Louisiana in 1803 made New Orleans a part of the U.S. and opened the door to gamblers. The high life so popular in New Orleans spread north which ushered in the era of the riverboat gambler. By 1820, 69 steamboats were operating the western rivers. And by 1860, that number had increased to 735. These steamboats were christened “floating palaces with luxurious quarters, world class food well stoked bars and wealthy passengers. In1937 riverboat travel en
Calliopes were used on the boats to let people know that the boat was docked. Unlike the past, today’s riverboat gambling is tightly controlled by each state. The Delta Queen Steamship Company has been apart of the New Orleans scenery since the founding family sold it in 1958. This company moved its headquarters and renovated an old wharf on the riverfront that had been vacant for years. On these river cruises there is no set limit on betting and gambling is done on a variety of coin operated amusement devices and gaming tables. It is one of only five surviving paddle wheelers cruising the Mississippi River system. The very first paddle boats ran on wood. The tremendous growth of the Port of New Orleans has been attributed to the introduction of many new lines over the past years. Coal replaced wood in 1860 and oil replaced coal in 1950. The “KEEL BOAT” carries 15 to 20 tons, a crew of 8 to 10 men, has a light construction, and is propelled by oars, sails, and setting poles. It took 250 pounds of steam just to blow the whistle. The city of New Orleans links to the world can be seen by the wide variety of goods that go through the Port’s facilities on a typical day. In 1990, the Delta Queen and the Mississippi Queen represented the last pair of steamboats to transport passengers the length of the Mississippi.
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Acceptance Essays
