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 is a special retired fireboat that served in the United States. It is one of the oldest boats designed to fight fires still around in the US. Only the Edward M. Cotter in Buffalo, New York is older. The Duwamish is now a museum ship where people can visit and learn about its history.
Contents
History of the Duwamish Fireboat
The Duwamish was built in 1909. It was made for the Seattle Fire Department in a place called Richmond Beach, Washington. This town is just north of Seattle.
How the Duwamish Worked
The fireboat was powered by strong steam engines. These engines could make the boat travel at a speed of about 10.5 knots. That's about 12 miles per hour!
The Duwamish had three powerful steam pumps. Each pump could spray 3,000 gallons of water every minute. Imagine how much water that is!
Original Design and Special Features
When it was first built, the Duwamish had a unique design. It had a special "ram bow" at the front. This was meant to ram and sink burning wooden ships if there was no other way to stop a fire. It was a last resort to keep fires from spreading.
Important Firefighting Moments
The Duwamish helped fight many fires. On July 30, 1914, it was part of the team that battled a big fire. This fire happened on the Grand Trunk Pacific dock.
In the 1930s, the city of Seattle used the Duwamish for another job. To save money, it sometimes acted as a tugboat. It would push the city's garbage scow, which is a flat-bottomed boat used to carry trash.
Upgrades and Pumping Power
The Duwamish got a big upgrade in 1949. After this, its pumps could deliver a total of 22,800 gallons of water per minute! This was an amazing amount of water.
For many years, the Duwamish had the most powerful pumps of any fireboat. It held this record until 2003. That's when the Los Angeles Fire Department's Warner Lawrence fireboat was built. The Warner Lawrence can spray even more water, about 38,000 gallons per minute.
Size and Measurements
The Duwamish is quite a large boat. It is 120 feet long. Its beam, or width, is 28 feet. The draft, which is how deep the boat sits in the water, is 9.6 feet. The boat's total weight, when empty, is 322 tons.
The Duwamish Today
The Duwamish fireboat stopped working in 1985. After it retired, the Puget Sound Fireboat Foundation bought it. They wanted to save this important piece of history.
Today, the Duwamish is a museum ship. It is docked at the Historic Ships Wharf. This wharf is near the Museum of History & Industry in South Lake Union Park in Seattle.
Visitors can go aboard the Duwamish. Volunteers are often there to show people around and share stories about the boat. It's a great way to see a real piece of history up close!
National Historic Landmark Status
Because of its importance, the Duwamish was named a National Historic Landmark in 1989. This means it is a very special place in American history. It is also considered a city landmark in Seattle.
See also
- Historic preservation
- Duwamish Native American tribe
- Duwamish River
- Sea Scouting (Boy Scouts of America)
