"It is impossible to say which was America's most famous steamboat, but there is little question that the Fall River Line was the most famous steamboat service. From 1847 to 1937, the nightly boats between New York and Fall River, Massachusetts (where they connected with special trains for Boston), were the floating aristocracy of Long Island Sound. The Commonwealth, here pictured by the noted marine artist Antonio Jacobsen, was the last and largest of the fleet. Apart from four Lake Erie boats of later date, she was this country's largest sidewheeler. Note her lack of masts, which distinguished her from her predecessors. With her steel hull, wholly enclosed paddlewheels driven by inclined engines, and 20-knot speed, she is generally regarded as the ultimate in the evolution of paddle steamboats on salt water. Retained as its flagship until the Fall River Line was discontinued in 1937, she was broken up at Baltimore."

PEABODY MUSEUM

Card #31. Description on back. Measures approximately 5-3/4 x 3-1/2 inches.

Minor corner tip wear. Very shallow crease at upper right corner. Approximate 1/2" tear from right edge.