The Hudson River was the cradle of American steamboating. While many people think of steamboats on inland rivers like the Mississippi, the type of steamboat that evolved on the Hudson was far more typical of those that operated throughout North America. From Robert Fulton's steamboat through the last steamer on the river almost 170 years later, these boats were an integral part of the life and commerce of the Hudson River valley. Whether it was a huge 400-foot side-wheeler, a small freight boat, excursion boats, or a ferry crossing, almost every river community was served by a steamboat.
William H. Ewen Jr. is a noted maritime historian and artist. In Steamboats on the Hudson River, he includes a wonderful selection of images, many never published before, from his personal and family collections, the Hudson River Maritime Museum, and other private sources.