Commanding a 54-foot stern-wheel steamboat christened Explorer, Joseph Christmas Ives ascended the Colorado River in 1858 to document uncharted territories. This expedition remains a primary contribution to geographical knowledge, utilizing specialized equipment to map over 500 miles of waterway before shifting his professional focus toward military engineering and the construction of the Washington Monument.
Military Education and Early Surveying
Born in New York City on December 25, 1829, Ives pursued a formal education that combined academic study with engineering expertise. He attended Bowdoin College, where he became a member of the Athenaean Society, earning his degree in 1848 and a master's degree in 1851. In 1852, he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. His early career included service as a second lieutenant in the Topographical Engineers, where he assisted Lieutenant Amiel Weeks Whipple on a Pacific Railroad survey along the 35th parallel between 1853 and 1854.
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Take the IQ test →Navigating the Colorado River
From 1857 to 1858, Ives directed an expedition to explore the Colorado River starting from its mouth. He personally designed and tested a 54-foot steamboat, which was transported to Robinson's Landing for final assembly. Accompanied by geologist John Strong Newberry and artist Balduin Möllhausen, he navigated as far as the Black Canyon and the vicinity of Fortification Rock. After encountering difficult rapids and treacherous conditions, Ives determined that the area near the Black Canyon represented the practical limit of navigation, approximately 550 miles from the river's mouth. Following this, he conducted a reconnaissance trip toward the Mormon road before traveling across northern Arizona to reach Fort Defiance.
Documenting Findings and Civil War Service
The expedition's findings were compiled into the 1861 Report upon the Colorado river of the West, featuring detailed maps produced by topographer Frederick W. von Egloffstein. Following his river exploration, Ives served as an engineer and architect for the Washington Monument from 1859 to 1860. Upon the outbreak of the American Civil War, he turned down a promotion to captain within the U.S. Army. In late 1861, he joined the Confederate Army, eventually serving as an aide-de-camp to President Jefferson Davis from 1863 to 1865 with the rank of colonel. He returned to New York City after the conflict, where he died on November 12, 1868.
Fast facts
- Born: 25 December 1829, New York City
- Died: 12 November 1868, New York City
- Education: Bowdoin College and United States Military Academy
- Key Expedition: Colorado River, 1858
- Steamboat name: Explorer
- Civil War Role: Aide-de-camp to Jefferson Davis
- Spouse: Cora Semmes Ives
- Son: Eugene S. Ives
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of the 1858 Colorado River expedition?
The mission produced one of the most important early maps of the region and established the practical limits of navigation for steam vessels on the river.
Did Joseph Christmas Ives serve in the American Civil War?
Yes, he joined the Confederate Army in 1861 and served as an aide-de-camp to President Jefferson Davis between 1863 and 1865.
Achievements
- Recorded as explorer, botanist and photographer
