Sternwheelers of Alaska and the Yukon

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Sternwheeler, side-wheeler, paddle wheel, paddle boat, steamship, etc. You will eventually see all of these names. These antique beasts of the rivers and waterways of Alaska and the Yukon caught my attention many years ago when I was doing research on the Tanana Valley Railroad. I was constantly finding articles, lots of data, information, stories, photos and videos on the role the sternwheelers played in building the railroads. Now we arrive at a point where this web site can pay tribute to the role played by the sternwheelers in mapping our future.
In some photos and videos you will see "Str" in front of the vessel's name. This the abbreviation for this type vessel was which stood for "sternwheeler", i.e. "Str Nenana". These vessels contained a boiler similar to, and sometimes identical to, the railroad steam engines. Fuel consumption was high and would average about 3.5 miles per cord of wood. How many cords do they need at one time? As much as they can hold without getting stuck on the bottom. That happened very frequently and getting "unstuck" was a major task and delay in the trip. The videos in the links above, shows one Str trapped on the bottom being assisted by another Str. A winch and a tug usually works and the Captain hopes it is not a snag or rocks that has them held fast.

There were somewhere in the range of 250 to 300 sternwheelers on the Yukon prior to 1960. Here is only a partial list of those constructed by the Moran Brothers, Seattle, WA. Some of these consisted of the parts which were sent to Alaska for final assembly. Similar to an early do-it-yourself kit. The last sternwheeler to travel on the Yukon River was the Keno which was in 1960. Well that is what history tells us. However, these magnificent marine vessels of the North still plow through the Tanana and Chena rivers of Alaska today for the tourist. Locally we encounter the sternwheelers by the names of the Discovery I, II, and III and the Tanana Chief. These no longer use wood to fire the boilers for steam, but rather modern diesel engines. There may be more in our future.

The Str. Nenana is now dry-docked at Heritage Park in Fairbanks. It has been completely restored to its' glory day condition. It was initially constructed for the Alaska Railroad in 1933, and carried both freight and passengers. Its' use was instrumental in completing the railroad into Fairbanks.