James Rumsey Monument and Park

James Rumsey Monument overlooks the Potomac, the very river on which Rumsey pioneered the first steamboat. Shepherdstonians began discussing a monument in the 1830s – undoubtedly to overshadow Robert Fulton, who often received recognition for being the ‘inventor’ of the steamboat. Completed in 1915, the 75-foot monument sits in the borders of its own park. A plaque mounted on one side of the monument reports how Rumsey “made the first successful application of steam to the practical purposes of navigation.”

Visitors of James Rumsey Monument Park can hike trails, use the playground and exercise equipment, and of course, enjoy the view of the river where Rumsey pioneered the very first steamboat.