The Robert E. Lee steamboat is closely tied to the history and culture of post-Civil War America. During its period of activity, it played a central role in facilitating trade and communication along the Mississippi River, contributing to the rapid economic development of the regions it traversed and was capable of transporting up to 5,741 bales of cotton.
Its elegance and efficiency made it an emblem of river navigation, celebrated in literature, art, and American collective memory.