Steamboat Archaeology in North America

Steam-propelled vessels heavily affected the social and economic development of 19th-century North America by connecting and unifying distant populations, industries, and commerce. The invention of steam propulsion is well-documented in contemporary letters, patents, newspaper announcements, and other historical accounts, but there are still major gaps in our knowledge of subsequent steamboat design, construction, and use. Archaeological discoveries in recent years have contributed significantly to our understanding of the steamboat and its role in North American maritime history and society. This symposium highlights recent archaeological investigations, reexamines the results of earlier projects, and includes studies on the early days of steam, the western river steamboat, Great Lakes steamers, Civil War-era steamships, and Gold Rush steamers of the Yukon.