Page "Jeffersonville, Indiana" Paragraph 29

In 1819 the first shipbuilding took place in Jeffersonville, and steamboats would become key to Jeffersonville's economy.

James Howard made his first steamboat in 1834 in Jeffersonville named the Hyperion.

He established his ship building company in Jeffersonville in 1834 but later moved his business to Madison, Indiana in 1836 and remained there until 1844.

He returned his business to the Jeffersonville area to its final location in Port Fulton, Indiana in 1849.

In 1925 the United States Navy assumed control of the Howard Ship Yards until 1941, after Jeffersonville finally annexed Port Fulton.

During the Second World War the ship yards built landing vessels like the LST.

It was later established as the Jeffersonville Boat & Machine Company, later simply known as Jeffboat, which still supports the local economy.

The history of shipbuilding in Jeffersonville is the focus of the Howard Steamboat Museum.

There was an annual festival held on the second weekend in September called Steamboat Days, but lack of participation led to its demise.