Naval History and Heritage Command

In 1814 and 1815, inventor Robert Fulton built the first war steamer, known both as Fulton and Demologos. The catamaran steam frigate was completed after Fulton’s death and delivered to the Navy in June 1816. Over the years, experimentation of steam propulsion occurred but steam-powered ships were required to still have sails. The Navy officially transitioned from sails to steam in the 1890s with the first battleships, Maine and Texas. After the destruction of Maine in Havana Harbor, Texas proved her might during the Battle of Santiago where the Spanish fleet was annihilated. 

On Dec. 16, 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt sent the “Great White Fleet”—16-battleships of the Atlantic Fleet—on a 14-month voyage around the world to display American sea power. The 43,000-mile journey included 20 port calls across six continents with about 14,000 Sailors and Marines participating. The voyage ended on Feb. 22, 1909, leaving a lasting legacy at home and abroad. 

On April 2, 1917, the U.S. joined World War I after years of neutrality. The most significant contribution of the Surface Navy during the war was the escort and transport of 2 million U.S. Soldiers to France. 

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Resources

• Notable Sail-to-Steam Era ships
• Spanish-American War
• Spanish-American War Medal of Honor Recipients
• World War I
• Identification Marking for Surface Vessels
• Osmond Kelly Ingram
• World War I Medal of Honor Recipients 

Selected Imagery