Paddle Steamer Collection

Isambard Kingdom Brunel Standing Before the Launching Chains of the Great Eastern, 1857, printed 1863-64

STEAMBOATS: SULTANA, 1865. The paddle steamer Sultana photographed during a stop at Helena, Arkansas on the Mississippi River, about one day prior to its fateful explosion near Memphis

LOUISIANA: STEAMBOAT, 1865. Through the Bayou by Torchlight. Lithograph, c1865, by Currier & Ives

The Dart paddle steamer Compton Castle. 1980s

North River Ferry Boat, paddlesteamer Date: ca. 1873

England, London, Paddle Steamer Waverley Passing Under Tower Bridge

Gloucester Historic Docks, Dock Basin with paddle steamer, former warehouses, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

On the Clyde, Glasgow, 1879 (oil on board)
CW213860 On the Clyde, Glasgow, 1879 (oil on board) by Grimshaw, John Atkinson (1836-93); 28x44 cm; Private Collection; eChristopher Wood Gallery, London, UK; English, out of copyright

Great Eastern on the stocks at Millwall on the Thames, 1857. View from the stern, showing the vessel in John Scott Russells (1808-1882) yard

Birds Eye View of Sixth Street Wharf, Washington D. C, published by Charles Magnus
XZL151145 Birds Eye View of Sixth Street Wharf, Washington D.C, published by Charles Magnus, 1863 (colour litho) by American School, (19th century); Library of Congress, Washington D.C

MISSISSIPPI STEAMBOAT, c1896. The Bluff City, sternwheel steamboat of the Anchor Line, moored along the Mississippi River some time between its launching in 1896

Ruse, Bulgaria - The Paddlesteamer Krum
Ruse, Bulgaria - the most significant Bulgarian river port - The Paddlesteamer Krum. Date: circa 1910s

Port of New Orleans, engraved by D. G. Thompson (coloured engraving)
XIR192825 Port of New Orleans, engraved by D.G. Thompson (coloured engraving) by Waud, Alfred R. (1828-91) (after); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France; American, out of copyright

Newcastle-upon-Tyne from the South (engraving)
XJF466215 Newcastle-upon-Tyne from the South (engraving) by Knox, John (1778-1845); Private Collection; Scottish, out of copyright

Paddle steamer on Lake Lucerne, Brunnen, Canton Schwyz, Switzerland

Naval boat-race in Cork Harbour, 1865. Creator: Smyth
Naval boat-race in Cork Harbour, [Ireland], 1865. 'Some days ago an exciting match was rowed at Queenstown, Cork Harbour, by the crews, respectively

The Isle of Mussowah, in the Red Sea, the head-quarters of the Abyssinian Relief Mission, 1865. Creator: Unknown
The Isle of Mussowah, in the Red Sea, the head-quarters of the Abyssinian Relief Mission, 1865. Engraving from a sketch by Lieutenant S. S

The International Naval Festival at Portsmouth: meeting of the Reine Hortense and the Osborne, 1865. Creator: Smyth
The International Naval Festival at Portsmouth: meeting of the Reine Hortense and the Osborne, 1865. 'There are few places in which a naval spectacle can be seen to greater advantage than

Regatta on the Danube at Buda-Pesth, during the visit of the Emperor of Austria, 1865. Creator: Unknown
Regatta on the Danube at Buda-Pesth, during the visit of the Emperor of Austria, 1865. Engraving of a sketch by M. Josef Keve of '...a most animated

H.M.S. Leopard in dock at Shanghai, 1865. Creator: Unknown
H.M.S. Leopard in dock at Shanghai, 1865. 'An officer of H.M.S. Leopard has sent us a sketch of the position of that ship in Muirhead's Dock, Shanghai

The British Channel Squadron entering Cherbourg Harbour, 1865. Creator: Unknown
The British Channel Squadron entering Cherbourg Harbour, [northern France], 1865. View '...from a sketch by our special artist...The first to round the point was the Royal yacht Osborne, while

The Prince and Princess of Wales landing at Barnpool, Mount Edgcumbe, 1865. Creator: Unknown
The Prince and Princess of Wales landing at Barnpool, Mount Edgcumbe, 1865. 'The [royal yacht] Osborne, on her arrival, took up her moorings in Barn Pool...where there is a private landing-place

The Saloon Steam-Packet Company's vessel Alexandra, for passenger traffic on the Thames, 1865. Creator: Unknown
The Saloon Steam-Packet Company's vessel Alexandra, for passenger traffic on the Thames, 1865. 'She is estimated at 140-horse power, nominal

The Royal Yacht Osborne passing through...English squadrons of ironclads in Plymouth Sound, 1865. Creator: Smyth
The visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Plymouth: the Royal Yacht Osborne passing through the French and English squadrons of ironclads in Plymouth Sound, 1865

The iron gun-boat Rangariri, built at Sydney for the New Zealand government, 1864. Creator: Unknown
The iron gun-boat Rangariri, built at Sydney for the New Zealand government, 1864. River-boat '...built by Messrs. P. N

The Great Eastern Railway Company's steamer Avalon, 1864. Creator: Smyth
The Great Eastern Railway Company's steamer Avalon, 1864. 'The first of a fleet of steam-boats, which Messrs. Dudgeon, of Cubitt Town, Blackwall

The South-Eastern Railway Company's Works on the River: view from Southwark Bridge..., 1864. Creator: Mason Jackson
The South-Eastern Railway Company's Works on the River: view from Southwark Bridge, looking east, 1864. 'The Engraving...presents a view of the piles

The arrival of Garibaldi at Southampton on board the Peninsular and Oriental steamer Ripon, 1864. Creator: Unknown
The arrival of Garibaldi at Southampton on board the Peninsular and Oriental steamer Ripon, 1864. Giuseppe Garibaldi, the popular hero of Italian Unification

The French Transatlantic Company's steam-packet Washington, 1864. Creator: Unknown
The French Transatlantic Company's steam-packet Washington, 1864. 'This large and beautiful paddle-wheel steamer, the first of a line of mail-packets

Temporary bridge over the Thames at Blackfriars, 1864. Creator: Unknown
Temporary bridge over the Thames at Blackfriars, [London], 1864. 'Old Blackfriars Bridge, which has been for some time in a very crazy condition, must speedily be rebuilt;

Launch of the Knight Commander, iron screw steam-ship, built at Dublin, 1864. Creator: Smyth
Launch of the Knight Commander, iron screw steam-ship, built at Dublin, 1864. View of '...the first large iron vessel ever built in the port of Dublin as she glided off her cradle into

Robert Fulton's paddle steamer the Clermont
5308073 Robert Fulton's paddle steamer the Clermont.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting Robert Fulton's paddle steamer the Clermont which piled between New York and Albany on the Hudson River)

A paddle steamer, 1850
3478559 A paddle steamer, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a paddle steamer on the upper Missouri. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

The paddle steamer The Carroll of Carrolton, 1850
3478549 The paddle steamer The Carroll of Carrolton, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting an American river paddle steamer The Carroll of Carrolton')

The steamer Lady Daly, 1850
3478548 The steamer Lady Daly, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the stern wheel paddle steamer Lady Daly on the Murray River, Australia. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Robert Fulton's paddle steamer Clermont on her maiden commercial voyage, 1850
3359160 Robert Fulton's paddle steamer Clermont on her maiden commercial voyage, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting Robert Fulton's paddle steamer Clermont which plied between New York)

Paddle steamer United Kingdom, 1850
3359157 Paddle steamer United Kingdom, 1850; (add.info.: Portrait of the paddle steamer United Kingdom built for the London/Edinburgh trade. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Robert Fulton's paddle steamer Clermont, 1850
3359156 Robert Fulton's paddle steamer Clermont, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting Robert Fulton's paddle steamer Clermont which plied between New York and Albany on the Hudson River)

The paddle steamer Clermont, 1850
3359143 The paddle steamer Clermont, 1850; (add.info.: Portrait of the paddle steamer Clermont'. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

The London Bridge, 1850
3359165 The London Bridge, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the London Bridge, showing the traffic of barges and paddle steamers on the Thames. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Robert Fulton's paddle steamer Clermont on her maiden commercial voyage, 1850
3359147 Robert Fulton's paddle steamer Clermont on her maiden commercial voyage, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting Robert Fulton's paddle steamer Clermont which plied between New York)

A paddle steamer engine, 1850
3330764 A paddle steamer engine, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of a paddle steamer engine. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

A paddle steamer on the Mississippi River, 1850
3478551 A paddle steamer on the Mississippi River, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the loading of a paddle steamer from a cotton chute on the Mississippi River)

Matthew C. Perry's paddle steamer
3733687 Matthew C. Perry's paddle steamer.; (add.info.: Painting depicting Matthew C. Perry's paddle steamer used during his expedition to Japan)

The launch of the paddle steamer Ariel, 1850
3359211 The launch of the paddle steamer Ariel, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the launch of the paddle steamer Ariel at Rotherhithe. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

The paddle steamer The Golden Age, 1850
3359202 The paddle steamer The Golden Age, 1850; (add.info.: Portrait of the paddle steamer The Golden Age owned by the New York and Australian Steam Navigation Company)

The Custom House, London, 1850
3359161 The Custom House, London, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the Custom House, London, showing busy paddle steamer and other traffic on the Thames)

The launch of the paddle steamer Ariel, 1850
3359937 The launch of the paddle steamer Ariel, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the launch of the paddle steamer Ariel at Rotherhithe. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

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The paddle steamer, a marvel of engineering and a symbol of industrial progress, has left an indelible mark on history. From its humble beginnings to its grandeur in the 19th century, these steam-powered vessels revolutionized transportation and shaped the world we know today. One iconic image captures Isambard Kingdom Brunel standing proudly before the launching chains of the Great Eastern. This monumental ship was a testament to human ingenuity and ambition, pushing boundaries with its colossal size and innovative design. In another snapshot from history, we see the paddle steamer Sultana during a stop at Helena. This photograph immortalizes the elegance and grace of these majestic vessels as they glided through waterways, connecting communities along their routes. A lithograph from 1865 takes us on a torchlit journey through Louisiana's bayous aboard a steamboat. The flickering lights cast enchanting shadows over this nocturnal scene, evoking mystery and adventure that awaited passengers on board. Moving forward in time to the 1980s, we encounter The Dart paddle steamer Compton Castle. Its presence invokes nostalgia for an era when these graceful ships were still part of everyday life, ferrying people across rivers with ease. Across continents and oceans alike, paddle steamers played vital roles in transportation networks. A North River Ferry Boat served as a lifeline between bustling cities while England's Paddle Steamer Waverley passed under Tower Bridge in London—a sight that never failed to captivate spectators along the riverbanks. The Great Eastern stands tall on stocks at Millwall in 1857—an awe-inspiring sight that showcased Britain's mastery over shipbuilding during this period. Its sheer scale demonstrated mankind's ability to conquer even nature's vast expanses. From Ruse in Bulgaria comes an image of The Paddlesteamer Krum—proof that these magnificent vessels transcended borders and brought people together across cultures.