Steamboat Race

by Ed Vebell

Title

Steamboat Race

Artist

Ed Vebell

Medium

Painting - Acrylic On Hot Press Illustration Board

Description

Although legend and romance surround the era of the Clipper Ships and their races around the globe, no mode of transportation has so enthralled the American people as the steamboat -- especially the paddlewheelers, replete with gamblers and southern belles, that piled the Mississippi. For some fifty years steamboats, with the slender smokestacks and columned decks, carried trade and travelers up and down the mighty "Father of Waters," and along its giant tributaries. While card sharks preyed on unwary plantation owners returning home from successful trading in New Orleans, there was money to be made by everyone from the frequent races between boats. Faster and faster the great paddlewheels churned: in 1815 it took 25 days to go from New Orleans to St. Louis; by 1853 the time was whittled down to four days, nine hours. The most fabled race of all took place in 1870 when the Robert E. Lee made the trip in three days, eighteen hours, fourteen minutes, defeating its rival the Natchez by over three hours. All America, and some of Europe, too, participated in the betting as telegraphs flashed reports of the progress of the two boats. Over ten thousand people lined the shore at Memphis as they passed. The most fabled race was, indeed, almost the last race. The expansion of the railroads after the Civil War doomed the steamboat to near extinction on inland waters, though its successors survive and flourish on the Great Lakes even today.

Please note the "Fine Art America" watermark will not appear on the painting or any print reproduction.

Artwork Copyright © 1979 Wind River Studios Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the Copyright. WRSH Stock Number XB05545

Uploaded

April 11th, 2022

Colors

Embed

Share

Tags