• steamboat profiles that include physical descriptions, a rundown of routes and destinations, and tales of mishaps;
• histories of passenger steamers spanning from 1901's Thomas Patten through the region's last paddlewheeler, the Alexander Hamilton, as well as a few diesel-powered vessels that closed out the excursion era in the late 1980s;
• spotlights on well-known vessels as well as many lesser-known excursion steamboats that are described in detail here for the first time;
• rare historical images and paintings by noted maritime artist William G. Muller;
• explorations of Coney Island, Playland, and the beach resorts, picnic groves, and other recreation destinations where the vessels delivered millions of passengers; and
• a look at the vessels' key role in water parades and other major celebrations in New York Harbor.

Embark on a nostalgic journey into New York's maritime past with this look at the excursion steamboats that captured the hearts of generations of New Yorkers and visitors. Full steam ahead!