Before there were railroads and highways to get us from A to B, rivers were the lifelines of the nation’s transportation system in America’s early years. Back then, magnificent riverboats in their lighted grandeur could always be found chugging along the waterfront, a floating caravan for our nation’s early travelers as they explored new territories and budding cities.
Nowadays, this once primary mode of transportation has become more of a fun commodity for tourism, as river cruise ships provide visitors a chance to get out on the water and take in the sights of their new surroundings. Oregon joined in on the trend in the early 1980s. Since then, several non-steam-powered sternwheel riverboats have been built and operated on major waterways in the state, primarily on the Willamette and Columbia Rivers in Marion County. Each is a fun ride for visitors and locals alike as they seemingly tug along and transport them to yesteryear.
Salem’s Willamette Queen
Designed as a scaled-down likeness of the former Mississippi and Yukon Territory Riverboats in Newport, Oregon, in 1990, the paddles on the Willamette Queen do indeed propel her forward and are not mere props or decorations. With a Coast Guard-approved capacity of 108, the vessel operates year-round from Salem’s Riverfront Park, only deviating from her course once every five years for a required periodic hull inspection in Portland.
At 87 feet long and weighing 86 tons, the ship gives seagoers a chance to relive Oregon’s historical past in an elegant dining experience as the ship leisurely glides along the Willamette River towards Independence or Keizer, depending on water levels. The vessel has become a favorite for family reunions, anniversaries, birthdays, business meetings, non-profit fund-raisers, dinner theater, and Monte Carlo parties. As an added bonus, if you feel like getting married on the high seas, the Captain is an ordained minister known to perform weddings.
Columbia Gorge
Built by Nichols Brothers boatbuilders in 1983 in Hood River, the Columbia Gorge, otherwise known as The Sternwheeler, has been carrying travelers up and down the Columbia and Willamette Rivers for 40 years. Named after the Columbia River Gorge, the 145-foot sternwheeler was partially modeled on the 1890-built Bailey Gatzert. She was built for the Port of Cascade Locks at a cost of around $2.5 million, of which $1.1 million was funded by federal grants secured by U.S. Senators Mark Hatfield and Bob Packwood.
The goal was to boost tourism, with plans to operate on the Columbia River, out of Cascade Locks, during the summer months and on the Willamette River, out of Portland, during the winter months. Certified to carry up to 599 passengers, guests are welcome to come aboard for any of her many hosted expeditions during the month, and she’s even available for private events so that guests can enchant their guests in style along the river.
A “Rose” by Any Other Name
Known today as simply Rose, the 65-foot sternwheeler was christened initially as Lurdine when it was completed in 1983, a name that paid homage to two 1800s sternwheelers known as Lurline and the Undine. At the time of her debut, The Oregonian reported that she was the first passenger-carrying sternwheeler in decades to operate on the Columbia River, and as such, was designed to emulate historic sternwheelers with her ten-foot diameter paddle wheel that is diesel powered. She was later purchased in 1985 by a group of investors in Portland who farmed a new company known as the Oregon Steam Navigation Company, rekindling the name of the original Oregon Steam Navigation Company.
The vessel was then moved to Portland and renamed Rose, operating Portland-based Columbia River cruises before moving on to run on the Willamette River in the fall of that same year. Rose has operated only on the Willamette in subsequent years, carrying up to 49 passengers at a time. She was later sold to Willamette Sternwheel Navigation in early 2004, continuing to be based in Portland and operating on the Willamette. In 2010, her mooring location was moved from Portland to Oregon City.
All hands are on deck and aboard these delightful modern-day sternwheelers as they transport visitors and locals alike in a pleasant modern-day tourism experience. These amazing sternwheelers, offering fun-filled rides to all its passengers, provide a unique opportunity to relive the bygone era and appreciate the timeless beauty of Oregon’s waterways. Though riverboats may not be the main mode of transportation in the future, they continue to be a testament to the enduring charm of water travel and the rich history that flows through our nation’s rivers.
