Steamboat era Mississippi River

mark twain s book, life on mississippi, covered steamboat commerce took place 1830 1870 on river before more modern ships replaced steamer. book published first in serial form in harper s weekly in 7 parts in 1875. full version, including passage unfinished adventures of huckleberry finn , works other authors, published james r. osgood & company in 1885.

the first steamboat travel full length of lower mississippi ohio river new orleans new orleans in december 1811. maiden voyage occurred during series of new madrid earthquakes in 1811–12. upper mississippi treacherous, unpredictable , make traveling worse, area not mapped out or surveyed. until 1840s 2 trips year twin cities landings made steamboats suggests not profitable.

steamboat transport remained viable industry, both in terms of passengers , freight until end of first decade of 20th century. among several mississippi river system steamboat companies noted anchor line, which, 1859 1898, operated luxurious fleet of steamers between st. louis , new orleans.

italian explorer giacomo beltrami, wrote journey on virginia, first steam boat make fort st. anthony in minnesota. referred voyage promenade once journey on mississippi. steamboat era changed economic , political life of mississippi, nature of travel itself. mississippi changed steamboat era transformed flourishing tourists trade.