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The New Orleans travels to Louisiana
The steamboat New Orleans, was the first steam
powered vessel to travel the length of the Ohio and Mississippi
Rivers. Built by Robert Fulton and financed by his partner, Edward
Livingston, the New Orleans proved that reliable steam transportation
could be employed on the rivers. The success of the trip set the
stage for an era when steamers would dominate river travel.
Having successfully left from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania the New
Orleans stopped in Cincinnati, Ohio and Lousiville, Kentucky.
At both stops the boat awed crowds of interested people. After
Louisville, and a quick return trip to Cincinnati that proved
the vessel could travel upstream, the New Orleans headed down
the Mississippi.
The rest of the journey to Louisiana was not without challenges.
An earthquake struck shortly after the New Orleans traversed the
Falls of the Ohio. The New Madrid earthquake caused destruction
all along the course of the Mississippi. Wherever the New Orleans
stopped for fuel the crew encountered terrified people who feared
the quake was not yet done. The quake caused debris to end up
in the river, already clogged with deadly snags.
It also changed its course, so that the riverbed Roosevelt learned in
his first journey was dramatically altered.
Despite the earthquake the New Orleans made the journey without
further problems and arrived in New Orleans to a crowd of thousands
on January 12, 1812. After making this successful journey the
steamer was used for the transportation of goods and people between
New Orleans and Natchez, Mississippi. The boat survived until
July 13, 1814, when a snag caught her. The New Orleans sank during
an effort to rescue her.