Steamboats were developed in the late 1700s; however, they were not a viable form of transportation until the early 1800s.
The Hartford was a shallow draft stern wheeler built in 1851 in Pennsylvania. Since she was destroyed by fire, there is no existing evidence showing exactly what she looked like, but it is estimated that she was 155 to 165 feet long. She was designed to carry cargo and passengers and initially plied the lucrative river trade along the Ohio River.
On the journey to Manhattan, the Hartford was captained by David Millard. Alongside the 75 to 100 passengers, the steamboat transported everything they would need to set up a new town. The cargo included:
