John Fitch Steamboat MuseumIn 2011, Warminster marked their TriCentennial, celebrating the rich history of the township.  Over the past 300 years, great men and women have passed through the town at places like Craven Hall & the Johnsville Centrifuge.  Now, another great man who passed through Warminster is being recognized at a new museum- John Fitch, the inventor of the steamboat.

The John Fitch Steamboat Museum tells the story of the adventuresome John Fitch and the steamboat that he invented.  A tireless visionary who faced many challenges still tackled by modern entrepreneurs, Fitch is much deserving of a museum in his honor. In fact, for years, a man named Robert Fulton was given credit for the invention which Fitch had spent the greater part of his life struggling to create.

John Fitch Steamboat MuseumThe first commercial steamboat made three round trips on the Delaware River, each week, between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Trenton, New Jersey, during the summer of 1790, traveling up to 8 miles per hour up the river.

The museum not only takes locals on the journey of Fitch's life, but it also reminds us of the importance of taking risks to achieve greatness, even in the face of adversity.

A native of Windsor, Connecticut, born in 1743, Fitch was a mechanical genius whose patience and perseverance overcame incredible obstacles. Despite his success with the creating an operating steamboat, he failed to attract the financial backing he needed to succeed.  Looking back, however, we can appreciate the steamboat for it's genius, a technological breakthrough that was ahead of its time.

John Fitch commemorated but another local historical figure, Henry Chapman Mercer

The museum is located on the grounds of Craven Hall, which is located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Street and Newtown Roads in Warminster Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

The John Fitch Steamboat Museum is open to the public on the 2nd Sunday of each month and most Tuesdays from 9am to 12pm.   You can also schedule an appointment.

School field trips are welcomed with open arms by the hard-working volunteers of the museum, where students can participate in an important piece of Bucks County history.

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