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Lot Essay
Crafted by William C. Manchester in 1858, this side-wheeler steamboat weathervane stands as an important symbol of America's burgeoning industrial ingenuity. Embracing the essential components of a steam powered ferryboat, this weathervane is enhanced by a bold application of red, white, and blue paint, intricate details of ornamentation, and a bearded captain steering the boat. Proudly waving both American and Rhode Island flags, this steamboat articulates the maker's faith in both his nation and his state. A carpenter from Bristol, Rhode Island, William C. Manchester was in his late fifties when he created this ship. His omission from the 1860 US Federal Census yet his family's inclusion suggests that this weathervane may have been one of Manchester's final creations and remains a lasting tribute to his name.
The steamboat's ability to quickly transport both people and goods throughout America's river networks revolutionized the American way of life and allowed for previously unperceived freedom of movement as well as incredible economic prosperity. Celebrated since Robert Fulton first launched the famous Clermont in 1807, steamboats captured the imagination of the American public and remained a primary means of transportation before the outbreak of the Civil War.
The steamboat's ability to quickly transport both people and goods throughout America's river networks revolutionized the American way of life and allowed for previously unperceived freedom of movement as well as incredible economic prosperity. Celebrated since Robert Fulton first launched the famous Clermont in 1807, steamboats captured the imagination of the American public and remained a primary means of transportation before the outbreak of the Civil War.