 The Banner State was the first steamboat to land materials for building the city in early 1854 , before the city was formally founded . Until 1879 Captain Joseph La <unk> was the principal figure among the Missouri steamboat captains in the early years of the city . According to J. Sterling Morton , the golden era for <unk> on the Missouri was from 1855 to 1860 , just before the advent of the railroads . In 1857 , 174 steamboats carrying 13 @,@ 000 tons of freight tied up at Omaha wharves . When Omaha became the outfitting center for Colorado gold <unk> headed for <unk> Peak in 1859 , 268 steamboats arrived at Omaha between March and November . 
