Duwamish (fireboat) facts for kids
Duwamish fireboat at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, Seattle
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | Duwamish |
| Builder | Richmond Beach Shipbuilding Co. |
| Launched | 1909 |
| Out of service | 1985 |
| Status | Museum ship |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 322 tons (gross) |
| Length | 120 ft (37 m) |
| Beam | 28 ft (8.5 m) |
| Depth | 9.6 ft (2.9 m) |
| Installed power | Compound marine steam engines |
| Speed | 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph) |
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Duwamish (fireboat)
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Originally the Seattle fireboat Duwamish was built with a ram bow.
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 Location in Washington (state)
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| Built | 1909 |
| Architect | Richmond Beach Shipbuilding Co. |
| NRHP reference No. | 89001448 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | June 30, 1989 |
| Designated NHL | June 30, 1989 |
The Duwamish was a super powerful fireboat that worked for 75 years! It was one of the strongest fireboats in the United States for a long time. It's also the second oldest fire-fighting boat still around in the US. Only the Edward M. Cotter in Buffalo, New York is older.
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The Duwamish's Amazing Career
The Duwamish was built in 1909 for the Seattle Fire Department. It was made in Richmond Beach, Washington, just north of Seattle. The boat had strong "double vertical (compound) marine steam engines." These engines could make it go as fast as 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph) (about 12 miles per hour).
Firefighting Power
The Duwamish had three special American LaFrance steam piston pumps. Each pump could spray 3,000 US gallons per minute (0.189 m3/s) of water. That's a lot of water! It was even designed to ram and sink burning wooden ships if needed. For this, it had a strong ram bow at the front.
On July 30, 1914, the Duwamish helped fight a big fire. This fire was on the Grand Trunk Pacific dock. In the 1930s, the city of Seattle used the Duwamish for another job. To save money, it pushed the city's garbage scow (a boat that carries trash).
Power Upgrades
In 1949, the Duwamish got a big upgrade. Its pumps could then spray a total of 22,800 US gallons per minute (1.438 m3/s) of water. This was an incredible amount of water! This record was only beaten in 2003. That's when the Los Angeles Fire Department got the Warner Lawrence. That boat can spray 38,000 US gallons per minute (2.397 m3/s).
The Duwamish is 120 feet (36.6 m) long. It has a 28-foot (8.5 m) beam (width). Its draft (how deep it sits in the water) is 9.6-foot (2.9 m). The boat's total weight, when empty, is 322 short tons (292 t) (gross tonnage).
The Duwamish's Current Status
The Duwamish stopped working in 1985. It was then bought by the Puget Sound Fireboat Foundation. Today, it is a Museum ship. You can find it at the Historic Ships Wharf. This is near the Museum of History & Industry at South Lake Union Park in Seattle.
Visitors can go on board the Duwamish. This is possible when volunteer staff are there to help. In 1989, the Duwamish was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical site in the US. It is also a city landmark in Seattle.
