robert fulton invention: steamboat By vallen1 Jan 1, 1807 first steamboat this is a image of robert fultons first steam boat. Period: Jan 1, 1807 to Jan 17, 2012 steamboats Jan 1, 1900 steamboat in 1900's this is a redone steamboat. it looked like this by the 1900's. Jan 1, 2012 boats today this is how far boats have travled, in technolagy wise, today.