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Riverboats, Steamboats, Sternwheelers, and Sidewheelers
The differences and the History
Over 11,000 Paddlewheel Steam Boats sailed in American rivers, lakes and bay waters just before the civil war!
The paddlewheel riverboat was the beginning of America's great inland river transportation system.
It has served our country well for nearly 200 years.
History of the paddlewheeler in the greater Northwest
The paddlewheeler was a major part of the development of the United States. From its development in 1811, this great vessel has filled an important role in our countries history. This first paddlewheel here in the United States was built by Robert Fulton and Nicholas Roosevelt. It was large enough for commercial use on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Not much is known about this first vessel to use the paddlewheel driven by a steam engine. No pictures or drawing remain in existence today for this lost piece of history. This first vessel was named the “New Orleans” it had been built in Pittsburgh and then sailed down to New Orleans where it was used commercially in the lower Mississippi river, proving the viability of a steam powered paddlewheel in transporting people and goods on the American river system.
Seattle developed into a vital city, becoming a major port quickly in American history. Regular shipping between San Francisco and clear up to Alaska where filled in these early days by the great steamships. Many of these ships used the paddlewheel as their primary means of propulsion.
Even the shorter routes between Seattle and Tacoma and many other local cities where filled by the paddlewheel. They would carry passengers, supplies and even machinery and vehicles to neighboring cities. Soon dozens of cities around the Puget Sound built up docks to help establish their communities on regular trading routes servicing people and goods throughout the area.
A common sight from about 1850 thru 1930 was the historic “Mosquito Fleet” which had ships numbering in the thousands transporting people and goods from port to port. Over the years, some 2,500 individual steamers were part of the Mosquito Fleet. The name was derived from the resemblance to a swarm of mosquitos.
This operation ended as the road systems and railways made for faster and less expensive forms of transportation.
The steam vessels were used in these early days to move settlers, troops, farm produce and livestock, machinery, timber, the mail, and everything else needed to build and serve the settlements that sprang up along the coastline.
Building steamship became a major industry in the Puget Sound to meet the
needs of the growing northwest and soon the gold rush into Alaska.
One of the first vessels to provide regular service to Puget Sound ports was
the Hudson Bay Company’s “Fairy”. Soon the “San Francisco”, a side-wheel
steamer, provided service between Olympia (population 50) and a new
settlement called, Settle in 1853. This was just after the Denny party
arrived at Alki.
A boiler explosion destroyed the Fairy in 1854. Many ships came and went in
this early time of steamers. The explosion of boilers was the most common
flats of the early steamship due to engineering inadequacies of the time.
Mostly y the captains of these early vessels would “push” their vessels to
the limit, over stressing the boilers, as they tried to reach their
destinations quicker then the competitors in order to get the next paying
route or transportation of goods to the next port.
The Alida was built in 1869 in Olympia. Having a keel length of 115 feet.
This side-wheeler had nearly a 20 year career in the water of the Puget
Sound. The run between Seattle and Port Townsend would typically take four
hours and eight minutes.
The sternwheeler Telegraph was one of the last built in Everett in 1903 for
the Seattle-Tacoma run of the Puget Sound "Mosquito Fleet". This vessel was
153.7 feet long. This vessel was destroyed on the evening of April, 25th
1912 in an accident.
Coming in as one of the largest in Puget Sound was the 283 foot side-wheeler
Yosemite.
Another member of the "Mosquito Fleet" traveling throughout Puget Sound. A
Seattle group calling itself the Puget Sound Excursion Co. had purchased
this vessel in 1906 from the Canadian Pacific Railway company. They had
decided to dedicate this vessel to tourism in the Puget Sound, carrying
passengers for mainly sightseeing and entertainment purposes. This boat had
spent most of it life working in the Sacramento river of California from
about 1863, before moving to Canada in 1883 and then to Seattle. This vessel
sank on July 9, 1909, while on excursion. The vessel crashed onto rocks and
broke the ship's back at Port Orchard Narrows. All escaped. It was widely
believed the Yosemite was deliberately wrecked for her insurance.
The Steam vessel Elixa Anderson was 140 foot side-wheeler which started
plying the waters in 1859. Having a 40 year career here and considered a
grand ship for her day.
Other great ships were the North Pacific, Greyhound Olympian, T.J. Potter.
George E. Star and the Bailley Gatzert (named after the Seattle businessman
and later mayor).
The fastest and grandest steamers were put on the best and most profitable
routes. The Seattle-Tacoma route was served by such famous steamers as the
Flyer, H. B. Kennedy, Indianapolis, Iroquois, and the Tacoma, (the
fastest steamer of all).
Interesting to note, that after the completion of the San Francisco bridge in 1935, that city sold their deasil-electric auto ferries to Puget Sound Navigation Company. They would then replace the old “mosquito fleet” vessels which held their last scheduled run in 1939. Puget Sound Navigation dominated the Sound's ferry system for many years until 1951, when the ferries were sold to the state of Washington.
The last remaining steam-powered survivor of the Mosquito Fleet is the National Historic Landmark Vessel Virginia V. Built in 1922, the Virginia V served the communities along Colvos Passage on the west side of Vashon Island. She was restored for use as a working museum and excursion vessel and is once again steaming on throughout Puget Sound based now on Lake Union.
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