Fun Fact: On August 17, 1807, Robert Fulton’s steamboat Clermont made its first successful trip up the Hudson River from New York City to Albany. This event marked the inauguration of the first commercial steamboat service in the world, revolutionizing transportation and commerce on American waterways.by johnataylor on TwosFun Fact: On August 17, 1807, Robert Fulton’s steamboat Clermont made its first successful trip up the Hudson River from New York City to Albany. This event marked the inauguration of the first commercial steamboat service in the world, revolutionizing transportation and commerce on American waterways.