Log of the Savannah

Report of the U. S. National Museum for 1890

This page is complimentary to the history of the Royal William in tracing details of early crossings of the North Atlantic by steam.

The Savannah was the first sailing ship to cross the North Atlantic, assisted by a steam engine driving retractable paddle wheels in May-June 1819. Accounts vary from 80 hours to ten days of the time she spent "under steam power". More details are availble on our Royal William page.