August 22, 1787
John Fitch demonstrated the first successful steamboat in America on the Delaware River, leading to a revolution in maritime transportation. The vessel could carry 30 passengers and travel at 3 mph upstream.
January 1, 1917
The completion of Lock and Dam No. 1 in 1917 between Minneapolis and St. Paul revolutionized navigation on the Mississippi River. This pioneering $2.9 million project introduced innovative engineering features and transformed the unpredictable waterway into a reliable transportation corridor.
May 20, 1926
The historic Delta Queen steamboat, built in Scotland and assembled in California, began its journey as a luxury overnight passenger vessel, later becoming an iconic symbol of American river transportation.
