"Before people had cars, planes, and trains to take them places, they had steamboats. This important advance in transportation technology once astounded travelers and made the shipping of goods faster and easier than ever before. Readers of this engaging volume will discover just how significant the steamboat was, the technology that made it work, and why this mode of transportation could be dangerous and even deadly! The appealing format-which includes accessible bits of information and historical images-will motivate both budding historians and up-and-coming inventors"--.