Idaho (sidewheeler)
The sidewheeler Idaho was a steamboat that ran on the Columbia River and Puget Sound from 1860 to 1898. There is some confusion as to the origins of the name; many historians have proposed it is the inspiration for the name of the State of Idaho. Considerable doubt has been cast on this due to the fact that it is unclear if the boat was named before or after the idea of 'Idaho' as a territory name was proposed. John Ruckel also allegedly stated he had named the boat after a Native American term meaning 'Gem of the Mountains' he got from a mining friend from what is now Colorado territory. This steamer should not be confused with the many other vessels of the same name, including the sternwheeler Idaho built in 1903 for service on Lake Coeur d'Alene and the steamship Idaho of the Pacific Coast Steamship Line which sank near Port Townsend, Washington.
Idaho | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Idaho |
| Owner | John Ruckel and later Oregon Steam Navigation Company |
| Port of registry | US 12298 |
| Route | upper Columbia River, Puget Sound |
| Builder | John J. Holland |
| Launched | C |
| Out of service | 1894 |
| Fate | Abandoned |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | inland shallow-draft passenger/freight carrier, wooden hull and works |
| Tonnage | 278 gross; 179 registered |
| Length | 150.8 ft (46 m); after 1869 rebuild: 147.4 ft (45 m) |
| Beam | 25.5 ft (8 m);after 1869 rebuild: 25 ft (8 m) |
| Depth | 6.9 ft (2 m) depth of hold; after 1869 rebuild: 6.4 ft (2 m) |
| Installed power | two steam engines, 16" bore by 80" stroke, horizontally mounted |
| Propulsion | sidewheels |
| Speed | 12 knots |