Robert Fulton has long been recognized as the man who brought the world’s first commercially successful steamboat to the Hudson River Valley, and to America. But there is much more to this story. In this presentation Mr. Bowman will concentrate on the development of the steamboat as a joint venture between Robert R. Livingston and Robert Fulton, and more specifically, Livingston’s forgotten role in the development of the boat. When Livingston and Fulton’s steamboat sailed up the Hudson River on that sunny August day in 1807, perhaps their greatest achievement was their partnership. The combination of Fulton’s ability to advance the design of the steamboat and Livingston’s stature and shrewd political skills empowered the two to revolutionize transportation in America.

Please contact the National Maritime Historical Society at 914-737-7878, ext. 0 if you plan to attend. Coffee is at 10:30 AM. The presentation is at 11:00 AM.