First Steamboat to Reach Arkansas Post: The "Arkansas" (1819)

Name: Arkansas

Arrival: July 4, 1819

Significance

First steamboat to successfully navigate the Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers, establishing a direct water route between Arkansas and the rest of the U.S.

Vessel Details

Side-wheel steamer, ~115 ft long, 20 ft wide, single-cylinder steam engine, carrying passengers, freight, and mail.

Journey

Departed New Orleans; two-month voyage due to challenging currents and navigation.

Impact

Catalyzed trade, commerce, transportation, settlement, and economic growth in the Arkansas Territory.