Lake Steamers

Lake Steamers is an Idaho historical marker in Kootenai County, dedicated 2025.

E Coeur D'Alene Lake Dr (S of Coeur D'Alene)

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More steamboats once plied these waters than any lake west of the Great Lakes. It began in 1880, when the Army launched the Amelia Wheaton to carry supplies for Fort Coeur d’Alene (later named Fort Sherman). Many other steamers followed, hauling freight, towing logs, and carrying passengers. Docks lined the City of Coeur d’Alene’s lakefront. In 1927, officials burned the Georgie Oakes, “Queen of the Lake,” as part of Coeur d’Alene’s July 4th celebration. Although a few steamers operated into the 1940s, Coeur d’Alene’s steamboat era had reached its turning point.

TodayHistorical map

Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Historical maps covering this location

1870 · Ore., Wash., Idaho, Mont. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1872 · Bancroft's Map Of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana And British Columbia. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1874 · Map of Oregon, Washington, Idaho & Montana. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1880 · Idaho. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1927 · Spokane, Seattle. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

Spokane, Seattle, 1927, covering the location of Lake Steamers, with a pin at the marker's coordinates — Spokane, Seattle, 1927, covering this location. David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries. The pin is ours, placed from the marker's coordinates.

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Lake Steamers

Historical maps covering this location

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