Livingston-Fulton Steamboat Bicentennial
Clermont’s Steamboat Bicentennial, 2007
The year 2007 marked the two-hundredth anniversary of Chancellor Robert R. Livingston and Robert Fulton’s banner accomplishment: the first practical steamboat. The steamboat’s first official trip along the Hudson on August 17th and 18th, 1807 changed forever the way Americans understood travel and distance. The record-breaking speeds first altered travel along the Hudson River and later Westward Expansion and Trans-Atlantic immigration.
In honor of this tremendous accomplishment, New York State Parks and the Friends of Clermont worked together to make 2007 an outstanding year at Clermont with a series of events, lectures, a grand ball, and a once-in-a-lifetime exhibit of steamboat-related objects from across the country. See a few of these events listed below to enjoy a taste of the celebrations held at Clermont.
Exhibit Grand Opening
The jewel in the crown of the 2007 Bicentennial Celebration was the loan exhibit entitled Bob’s Folly: Building America’s First Practical Steamboat. This exhibit opened on a brilliant evening in May with a gala Opening, attended by New York State Parks officials, donors, and some of the many people who worked together to make the exhibit happen. This exhibit was open throughout the year 2007 and closed on December 31st. |
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School Outreach Initiative
The Days of the Steamboat Activity Packet was released to schools early in 2007. This complete instructional unit was designed for use in fourth grade classrooms in conjunction with New York State educational standards with or without a field trip to the museum. It is still available to teachers for a fee of $10.
Steamboat Symposium
Featuring speakers and scholars of steamboats from multiple institutions, the symposium took place in June of 2007. It featured new scholarship on the social and technological aspects of the invention of the steamboat and was held in association with Bard College
Livingston Family Reunion
Over 200 Livingstons came together from next door and across the country to celebrate their shared history. They enjoyed lectures by Eliot Hawkins and Wint Aldrich about “Growing Up Livingston” as well as tours of nearby Livingston mansions and a cruise along the Hudson River. Some visitors to the reunion even came in the official Livingston tartan.
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Steamboat Ball
The Friends of Clermont held the Steamboat Ball, as their
annual summer fundraiser. The steamboat theme brought many guests in historic costume to enjoy fine food and music in the ruins of Chancellor Livingston’s 1793 mansion. |
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Steamboat Days
Steamboat Days marked the largest family festival associated with the Steamboat Bicentennial. This two-day event showcased music about the Hudson River, costumed interpreters, working steamboats, and a fireworks display and drew over 900 people to Clermont’s doorstep.
For a Brief History of the Livingston-Fulton
Steamboat Partnership click here.
