dec 16, 1839 - Steamboats emerged on the Mississippi (rough date)
Description:
Steamboats played a major role in the 19th-century development of the Mississippi River and its tributaries by allowing the practical large-scale transport of passengers and freight both up- and down-river. Using steam power, riverboats were developed during that time which could navigate in shallow waters as well as upriver against strong currents.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steamboats_of_the_Mississippi
Added to timeline:
Date:
dec 16, 1839
Now
~ 186 years ago