Lake Steamers

Kootenai County · dedicated 2025 · E Coeur D'Alene Lake Dr (S of Coeur D'Alene)

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.

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Lake Steamers

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