Night Boat to NY: Steamboats in CT with Erik Hesselberg

For more than a century, overnight and day excursion steamers plied the route between Hartford and New York, carrying passengers, mail, and goods on regularly scheduled runs. The churning vessels, known as “Night Boats,” departed every afternoon from Hartford’s State Street Landing on the Connecticut River, stopping at multiple river landings before steaming through the darkness of Long Island Sound. A key feature of the river steamer was the promenade deck, where passengers could gather in the open air, chat with friends, and gaze at the shifting panorama of scenery. Thus, steamships, in addition to their practical value, helped foster an appreciation of nature and the outdoors. This illustrated talk will focus on the importance of the steamboat in advancing this picturesque travel movement, which became known as "the fashionable tour".

Friday, Jan. 27 | 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | The McAuley | $20

Brought to you by the Presidents' College, where we connect the curious through lifelong learning.