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Lots of history has set sail from Philly – including America’s first steamboat that transported passengers and freight.
John Fitch created the first functioning American steamboat. His first invention, a 45-foot steam-powered boat, was launched on the Delaware River in August of 1787. Following its success, Fitch created a larger boat that carried passengers and freight for several months in the summer of 1790.
“Steam, especially as early as this, is a rare thing,” said Mike Madea, director of education at the Independence Seaport Museum. “So, it’s a competitive market, and it’s really lively. The patent office has just become a thing. Steam is about to burst onto the scene as a really viable means of transit, freight and shipping. So, to have something like this celebrated in Philadelphia is a really cool thing.”
The passenger boat, referred to as “the Experiment,” transported up to thirty paid passengers at a time between Philadelphia and Burlington, New Jersey, on Sundays throughout the summer.
“Being able to take a steam-powered vessel to someplace like Burlington, New Jersey, and get a little bit of recovery from the city, even in [the late 1780s] is a big treat too,” Madea said. “So it was a cool opportunity to combine that very deep mercantile aspect of Philadelphia with the kind of tourism aspect as well.”
Despite this initial success, Fitch faced challenges in making the business a lasting enterprise. Fitch had issues securing a patent and struggled with the high costs of construction and operation of steamboats. After years of continuing to try and build, he eventually left the United States, to try his luck in Europe.
Fitch eventually took his own life, due to his lack of recognition.
Fitch’s perseverance and persistence to his craft is what inspired this week’s Firstival artist Gwenn Seemel.
“Let’s just say John Fitch had a lot of adventures and a lot of adversity, and he kept at it and kept at it, and this was one of his many projects,” Seemel said. “I think his story is one that many of us can relate to, maybe not setbacks on the level that he had, but we all feel stuck sometimes.”
Honoring Fitch’s legacy
The legacy of the American steamboat ultimately pushed on with American inventor Robert Fulton, who commercialized the steamboat in 1807. Due to this, many say Fitch does not always get the credit he deserves for creating the actual invention.
This week’s firstival celebration aims to give Fitch that credit, and to do so through a family-friendly celebration.
“We have our historic ship, Olympia, where you’ll be able to take steam engine tours and learn a little bit more about how that vessel was powered by steam, we’ll have some demos in our seaport boat shop, and we’ll have some other activities running for a family-friendly afternoon and day,” Madea said.
In addition, those in attendance can view Seemel’s sculpture, which pays homage to Fitch, his invention, and the summer of 1790. She showcased her sculpture at a firstival preview event.
“There is the original patent design illustration that Fitch submitted to the patent office,” Seemel said. ”On the side, you have the city of Philadelphia, back in the 1700s. And you have some ships with sails, which is mostly what was on the river at the time, and then you have the steamboat with the steam coming out of the big pipe.”.
This week’s firstival will take place on Saturday, May 30, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Independence Seaport Museum at 211 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard.
And here is your full guide to all of this year’s firstivals – including where you can find this upcoming Saturday’s Firstival dates and location.
Completed
Week 1: Successful balloon flight in America (1793)
Week 2: The Mummers parade, the nation’s first folk parade (1901)
Week 3: Volunteer fire company (1736)
Week 4: Professional basketball league (1898)
Week 5: Public Girl Scout cookie sale (1932)
Week 6: African Methodist Episcopal congregation (1794)
Week 7: Abolitionist society in America (1775)
Week 8: Authentic Chinese gate built in America (1984)
Week 9: Public protest against slavery in America (1688)
Week 10: Flower Show (1829)
Week 11: Women’s medical college (1850)
Week 12: Matchbook (1892)
Week 13: Medical school (1765)
Week 14: Stadium (1895)
Week 15: Circus performance (1793)
Week 16: Botanical garden (1728)
Week 17: Postmaster (1737)
Week 18: American-made piano and sousaphone (1775 and 1893)
Week 19: Mother’s Day (1908)
Week 20: Hospital in America (1751)
Week 21: World’s Fair on American soil (1876)
Upcoming
• Steamboat for passengers and freight (1787)
May 30, Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.
• American flag (1777)
June 6, Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch St.
• U.S. Army (1775)
June 13, Museum of the American Revolution, 101 S. 3rd St.
• Annual Reminder demonstration (1965)
June 20, Philly Pride Visitor Center, Lombard St. and S. 12th St.
• Paper maker in America (1690)
June 27, Rittenhouse Town, 6034 Wissahickon Ave.
• Bank of the United States (1791)
July 4, First Bank of the United States, 120 S. 3rd St.
• Organized baseball team (1831)
July 11 (location TBD)
• Ice cream soda (Oct. 1874)
July 18, Franklin Fountain, 116 Market St.
• American art school (1805)
July 25, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 118-128 N. Broad St.
• Scientific Society of Natural History (1812)
Aug. 1, at Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• Zoo in America (1874)
Aug. 8, Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Ave.
• U.S. Mint (1793)
Aug. 15 (location TBD)
• Selfie (1839)
Aug. 22, Love Park, 1501 John F Kennedy Blvd.
• Slinky (1943)
Aug. 29, Philadelphia Art Museum, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• Signing of the Constitution (1787)
Sept. 5, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St.
• Continental Congress (1774)
Sept. 12 at Carpenters’ Hall, 320 Chestnut St.
• Naming of the United States (1776)
Sept. 19, Independence Hall
• Ronald McDonald House (1974)
Sept. 26, Ronald McDonald House, 3925 Chestnut St.
• Penitentiary in America (1829)
Oct. 3, Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave.
• The First Peoples
Oct. 10, Penn Museum, 3260 South St.
• U.S. Navy and Marine Corps (1775)
Oct. 17, Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch St.
• Public showing of a motion picture (1870)
Oct. 24, Philadelphia Film Society, 1412 Chestnut St.
• Modern detective story written (1841)
Oct. 31, Edgar Allan Poe House, 532 N. 7th St.
• Thanksgiving Day parade in America (1920)
Nov. 7, Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• University in America (1740)
Nov. 14, Houston Hall, The University of Pennsylvania, 3417 Spruce St.
• Children’s hospital in America (1855)
Nov. 21, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Main Building, 3401 Civic Center Blvd.
• Pencil with an attached eraser (1858)
Nov. 28, National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St.
• Weather bureau (1870)
Dec. 5, The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St.
• Electronic computer (1945)
Dec. 12, The University of Pennsylvania, 3451 Walnut St.
• Public lending library in America (1731)
Dec. 19, The Library Company of Philadelphia, 1314 Locust St.
• Philly food firsts: Cheesesteaks (1930s), water ice (1932) and bubble gum (1928)
Dec. 26, Reading Terminal Market, 1136 Arch St.
