Front:
SA25
YSA
RLEANS
New Orleans 18
1989
20113
LA
Back:
STEAMBOAT NEW ORLEANS — 1812
First Day of Issue: March 3, 1989
First Issue Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Nicholas J. Roosevelt had a dream: he wanted to build
steamboats for use on the Mississippi River. He ap-
proached Robert Livingston and Robert Fulton, who had
a monopoly on steamboat operation in New York. They
were interested in establishing the same control on west-
ern rivers, and chose Nicholas Roosevelt as their western
representative. Roosevelt built a flatboat and floated
down the Mississippi to New Orleans. Along the way, he
discussed steamboating with the rivermen, who gave him
no encouragement. They believed that swift currents and
shifting bottoms would make it impossible to use steam-
boats on the river. Nevertheless, Roosevelt built a steam-
boat, the New Orleans, to run the Mississippi. Her maiden
voyage was adventurous and filled with near disaster, but
after some three-and-a-half months, the boat reached her
destination successfully. The New Orleans was immedi-
ately put into regular service and became the beginning
of a mighty company that carried freight and passengers
between New Orleans and Natchez, Mississippi.
No. 89-8
©1989 The Maximum Card Collection
A Division of Unicover Corporation • Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007
Original painting by John Swatsley
