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List of Puget Sound steamboats facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Steamboats are like the old-time buses and trucks of the water! They were super important for travel and moving goods around Puget Sound and western Washington state a long time ago. Imagine a world without cars or big trains – steamboats were how people got from one town to another, and how businesses sent their products.

These boats were part of something called the "Mosquito Fleet" because there were so many of them, buzzing around like a swarm of mosquitoes! They connected all the different towns and islands in the area, making life much easier for everyone.

Understanding the Boat List

When you look at lists of these old boats, you'll see some special codes. These codes help us understand what kind of boat it was and what happened to it.

  • Prop: This means the boat was powered by a propeller, like most modern boats.
  • Stern: This means it had a large paddlewheel at the back (the stern) to push it through the water.
  • Side: This means it had two large paddlewheels, one on each side.
  • Pddl or Paddle: This is a general term for any boat moved by a paddlewheel, whether at the stern or on the sides.

Here's what the "Disposition" codes mean, telling us the boat's final story:

  • A: Abandoned. The boat was left behind, perhaps because it was too old or broken.
  • B: Burned. The boat caught fire and was destroyed.
  • C: Converted. The boat was changed for a new purpose.
    • C-B: Converted to a barge (a flat boat for carrying cargo).
    • C-D: Converted to use a diesel engine instead of steam.
    • C-F: Converted into a ferry.
    • C-G: Converted to use a gasoline engine.
    • C-H: Converted into a house or a floating home.
    • C-S: Converted into a sailing vessel.
  • F: Foundered at sea. The boat sank while out on the water.
  • G: Grounded. The boat got stuck on the bottom and was a total loss.
  • L: Laid up. The boat was stored and not used for a while.
  • M: Museum. As of 2011, the boat was preserved in a museum.
  • N: Name change. The boat was given a new name.
  • O: Operational. The boat was still working at the date given.
  • R: Renamed. Similar to 'N', the boat got a new name.
  • S: Sank. The boat went down in the water.
  • T: Transferred. The boat was moved to operate in a different area.
  • W: Wrecked. The boat was badly damaged, often by hitting something or crashing.
  • X: Explosion. The boiler on the boat exploded, which was very dangerous.
  • Gr: Gross tons (a measure of the boat's total volume).
  • Reg: Registered tons (another measure of the boat's size).

Keep in mind that boats often moved between different areas, so they might not have stayed in Puget Sound the whole time listed.

Mosquito Fleet List

This table shows some of the many steam-powered vessels that were part of the famous Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet. It includes details like their type, what they were used for, when and where they were built, their size, and what happened to them.

Steam vessels of Puget Sound
Name Reg # Type Use Year built Where built Length Gross Tons Regis Tons End year Disposition
ft m


A-1 213489 prop tug 1915 Tacoma 62 18.9 14 9.0 1922 O


A.B. Carpenter 209653 prop fish 1912 Winslow 45 13.7 71 33 1922 O


Aberdeen (1888) 106544 stern psgr 1888 Aberdeen 78 23.8 98 84 1901 O


Active (1849) 1232 side 1849 New York 172 52.4 510 T-Mex


Addie 105447 stern tug 1874 Seattle 75 22.9 81 1900 A


Adeline Foss 204749 prop tug 1898 Tacoma 72 21.9 1950 O


Alaskan 106232 side psgr 1883 Chester, PA 276 84.1 1,718 1,259 1889 F


Albion 107443 prop psgr 1898 Coupeville 94 28.7 149 97 1925 D


Alida 105028 side psgr 1869 Olympia 115 35.1 114 1890 B


Alki (1882) 106062 side frt 1882 Seattle 65 19.8 65 45 1900 A


Aquilo (1901) 107697 prop yacht 1901 Boston, MA 127 38.7 176 103 1950 O


Ariel 209831 prop psgr 1912 Tacoma 58 17.7 63 1947 O


Atalanta 210942 prop psgr 1907 Seattle 95 29.0 147 1940 A


Bailey Gatzert (1907) 204289 stern psgr 1907 Seattle 194 59.1 642 536 1926 C


Beaver (1835) side misc 1835 London 101 30.8 1888 W


Bellingham 81313 prop psgr 1882 Portland 136 41.5 333 1950 B


Black Diamond 2637 stern psgr 1864 Seattle 70 21.3 50
Bob Irving 3264 stern frt. 1883 Seattle 125 38.1 176.03 125 1888 X


Buckeye 3474 prop psgr 1890 Seattle 62 18.9 87 52 1930 A


Burton 201748 prop psgr 1905 Tacoma 93 28.3 122 83 1924 B


Carlisle II 214872 prop psgr 1917 Bellingham 65 19.8 95 86 - C-D


Cascade (1864) 5263 stern 1864 Utsalady 155 47.2 401 1870 D


Chippewa 127440 prop psgr 1900 Toledo, OH 206 62.8 996 677 C-G ferry


City of Aberdeen 126726 stern psgr 1891 Aberdeen 127 38.7 245 138 1907 R


City of Bremerton 93135 prop ferry 1901 Everett 167 50.9 1945 D


City of Seattle (1888) 126536 side ferry 1888 Portland 122 37.2 272 187 1913 T-CA


Clallam 117769 prop psgr 1903 Tacoma 168 51.2 657 1904 F


Columbia (1849) 5184 prop tug 1849 Maine 100 30.5 C-S


Comet 5973 stern psgr 1871 Seattle 65 19.8 57 1900 A


Concordia 230279 prop psgr 1930 Tacoma 62 18.9 1958 O


Cyrus Walker 5123 side tug 1864 San Francisco 128 39.0 241 154 1900 T


Daisy 157006 stern 1880 Seattle 81 24.7 98 1896 S


Daring 206115 prop psgr 1909 Tacoma 100 30.5 163 111 1918 T-BC


Dawn 212284 prop psgr 1914 Houghton 55 16.8 70 48 1946 S


Detroit 157262 prop psgr 1889 Detroit, WA 81 24.7 97 61 1910 A


Dix 200876 prop psgr 1904 Tacoma 102 31.1 101 1906 W


Duwamish prop fire 1909 Richmond Beach 120 36.6 C-G


Eliza Anderson 7967 side psgr 1859 Portland 140 42.7 276 197 1897 A


Elwood 136820 stern psgr 1891 Portland 154 46.9 510 420 1920 A


El Primero 136385 prop yacht 1893 San Francisco 111 33.8 102 73 1922 O


Empire 8973 prop psgr 1873 Port Madison 170 51.8 732 1900 A


Enterprise (1861) C83441 side psgr 1861 San Francisco 134 40.8 1885 A


Evangel 135567 prop psgr 1882 Seattle 100 30.5 164 97 1904 D


Fairhaven 120762 stern psgr 1889 Tacoma 130 39.6 319 241 1918 B


Fanny Lake 120220 stern frt. 1875 Seattle 91 27.7 164 119 1893 B


Favorite (1868) 9835 side tug 1868 Utsalady 125 38.1 270 270 1921 A


Ferndale 120434 prop frt. 1887 San Francisco 110 33.5 243 1890 B


Fleetwood 120447 prop psgr 1881 Portland 125 38.1 134 68 1905 A


Florence Henry 129896 stern psgr 1891 Ballard 75 22.9 130 80 1918 T-AK, D


Flyer 120876 prop psgr 1891 Portland 170 51.8 427 280 1929 D


Fortuna 202854 prop psgr 1906 Seattle 113 34.4 81 55 1929 A


Gazelle (1876) 85474 stern 1876 Portland 92 28.0 157 1885 B


George E. Starr 85610 side psgr 1879 Seattle 154 46.9 473 337 1921 A


Gig Harbor prop psgr 1925 Gig Harbor 100 30.5 1929 B


Goliah (1849) 10744 side tug 1849 New York, NY 136 41.5 236 1899 B


Gleaner (1907) 204548 stern frt. 1907 Stanwood 140 42.7 477 279 1940 W


Glide 85782 stern psgr 1883 Seattle 81 24.7 110 79 1910 A


Greyhound 86100 stern psgr 1890 Portland 139 42.4 180 166 C-B


Hyak 206294 prop psgr 1909 Pontiac 134 40.8 195 118 1941 A


Idaho 12298 side psgr 1860 Cascades, OR 151 46.0 278 179 1898 C


Indianapolis 200920 prop psgr 1904 Toledo, OH 180 54.9 795 1938 D


Inland Flyer 100660 prop psgr 1898 Portland 106 32.3 151 103 1924 A


Iroquois 100730 prop psgr 1901 Toledo, OH 214 65.2 1169 1950 L


Issaquah 211983 prop ferry 1914 Houghton 114 34.7 288 1918 T-CA


J.B. Libby 13464 side psgr 1863 Utsalady 85 25.9 163 1889 B


Josephine 76040 stern misc 1878 Port Townsend 76 23.2 104 65 1892 B


Julia Barclay 13621 stern psgr 1858 Port Blakely 147 44.8 325 1872 D


Katy (1862) 14405 prop tug 1862 Eden Landing, CA 76 23.2 93 42 1952 B


King County 161145 side ferry 1899 Seattle 116 35.4 412 352 1907 S


Kirkland 14480 side psgr 1888 Houghton 95 29.0 185 118 1910 D


Kulshan 207780 prop psgr 1910 Seattle 160 48.8 926 573 1938 D


L.T. Haas 141472 prop psgr 1902 Lake Washington 68 20.7 89 60 1909 B


Leona 141710 stern frt. 1901 Portland 105 32.0 145 136 1912 B


Leschi (1913) 211875 side ferry 1913 Seattle 169 51.5 433 1931 C-G


Linnie 15621 stern misc 1869 Utsalady 75 22.9 153 C-B


Lois 213239 stern frt. 1915 Seattle 65 19.8 130 120 1929 D


Lotta Talbot 140614 stern frt. 1898 Tacoma 146 44.5 342 216 1898 T-AK


Louise (1884) 140620 stern tug 1884 Seabeck 90 27.4 168 130 1898 T-BC


Mabel 92151 stern misc 1889 Seattle 99 30.2 157 115 1899 D


Magnolia 203978 prop psgr 1907 Tacoma 112 34.1 119 81 1937 A


Mainlander prop psgr 1900 Tacoma 163 49.7 W


Malahat 207420 prop ferry 1910 California 244 74.4 1189 1950 L


Mary D. Hume 91304 prop misc 1881 Gold Beach, OR 98 29.9 140 83 1970 A


Mary Woodruff 17065 side psgr 1863 Port Madison 63 19.2 36 1881 B


Maude C64136 side psgr 1872 San Juan Is. 116 35.4 175 T-BC


Milwaukee (1913) 211599 prop tug 1913 Seattle 107 32.6 222 100 1950 O


Montesano 91400 stern psgr 1882 Astoria 80 24.4 113 87 1906 D


Multnomah 91765 stern psgr 1885 Portland 143 43.6 313 278 1911 W


Nellie (1876) 130079 stern psgr 1876 Seattle 82 25.0 100 55.03 1910 A


New World 18357 side psgr 1849 New York 225 68.6 531
Nisqually 208596 prop psgr 1911 Dockton 140 42.7 255 1923 W


North Pacific 18625 side psgr 1871 San Francisco 166 50.6 124 1901 W


Ocean Wave 155207 side psgr 1891 Portland 180 54.9 724 507 1899 T-CA


Olympian (1912) 200012 stern psgr 1912 Everett 185 56.4 386 243 1920 T-OR


Olympian (1883) 155089 side psgr 1883 Wilmington, DE 262 79.9 1,419 1.083 1906 B


Otter (1853) C83459 prop frt. 1853 London 180 54.9 291 1890 D


Perdita 200077 prop psgr 1903 Seattle 143 43.6 286 177 1911 B


Politkofsky 20304 side tug 1866 Sitka 125 38.1 255 175 1897 C-B


Potlatch 210378 prop psgr 1912 Seattle 150 45.7 575 325 1940 A


Quickstep (1875) 20571 stern psgr 1875 Portland 60 18.3 22 12 1897 B


Ranger (1856) side psgr 1856 San Francisco 75 22.9 1870 D


Reliance 111278 prop tug 1900 Portland 118 36.0 153 204 1929 D


Rosalie 111022 prop psgr 1893 Alameda, CA 137 41.8 318 226 1918 B


Ruby (1867) 21869 stern psgr 1867 Snohomish 65 19.8 25 T-BC


S.G. Simpson 204649 stern psgr 1907 Tacoma 146 44.5 267 168 1945 A


Samson 117241 prop frt. 1903 Seattle 116 35.4 328 223 1930 D


San Mateo 222386 prop ferry 1922 San Francisco 217 66.1 1782 1950 O


Sea Bird side psgr 1850 New York 225 68.6 1858 B


Seattle (1924) prop ferry 1924 Seattle 185 56.4 1940 D


Sehome 116301 side psgr 1877 The Dalles 176 53.6 708 444 T-CA


Shasta 222598 prop ferry 1922 San Francisco 230 70.1 1780 1961 C-H


Sioux 208278 prop psgr 1910 Seattle 150 45.7 461 266 1924 C-f


Skagit Belle 241154 stern frt. 1941 Everett 165 50.3 555 513 1950 O


Skagit Chief (1887) 116159 stern frt. 1887 Portland 140 42.7 345 241 1907 R


Sol Duc 210133 prop psgr 1912 Seattle 189 57.6 1085 667 T


State of Washington 116272 stern psgr 1889 Tacoma 175 53.3 605 449 1920 X


T.J. Potter 145489 side psgr 1888 Portland 234 71.3 659 590 1900 Rebuilt


Tacoma (1884) 145382 prop ferry 1884 Portland 334 101.8 1,362 1,311 C-B


Tacoma (1913) 211198 prop psgr 1913 Seattle 215 65.5 836 458 1938 D


Triton 206216 prop psgr 1909 Houghton 78 23.8 35 27 1930 D


Utopia 25295 prop psgr 1893 Seattle 123 37.5 424 351 1922 A


Vashon (1905) 201956 prop psgr 1906 Dockton 94 28.7 100 68 1930 D


Vashon (1907) 126766 stern psgr 1907 Aberdeen 127 38.7 244 138 1911 B


Verona 207675 prop psgr 1910 Dockton 112 34.1 113 1940 D


Virginia V 222170 prop psgr 1922 Lisabuela 110 33.5 122 83 2011 O


W.T. Preston stern snag 1915 Winslow 161 49.1 275 1981 M


Walsh 81601 stern ftr. 1898 Port Blakely 150 45.7 523 348 1903 B


Washington (1881) 80815 stern psgr 1881 Vancouver, WA 142 43.3 292 193.08 1900 A


Washington (1908) 203354 prop psgr 1908 Seattle 160 48.8 539 367 1947 D


Welcome 80537 stern psgr 1874 Portland 127 38.7 327 251 1900 D


West Seattle 203946 side ferry 1907 Tacoma 140 42.7 773 487 C-B


Whatcom 93155 prop psgr 1901 Everett 120 36.6 716 487 1921 C-f


Whidby (1907) 204303 prop psgr 1907 Coupeville 110 33.5 192 130 1911 B


Wilson G. Hunt 26713
C83455		 side psgr 1845 New York 185 56.4 461 1878 T-BC


Yosemite 27550
C83455		 side psgr 1862 San Francisco 282 86.0 1525 1909 W

Boats Built for Other Places

Some steamboats were built right here in Puget Sound but were meant to be used in other parts of the world, especially Alaska. Here are a few examples of those vessels.

Steam vessels constructed on Puget Sound but used solely in other areas
Name Registry Type Use Year built Where built Length Gross Tons Regis Tons End Year Disposition
ft m


Constantine prop ftr. 1898 Seattle 134 40.8 1898 T-AK


D.R. Campbell stern frt. 1898 Seattle 176 53.6 1898 T-AK


F.K. Gustin 121071 stern frt. 1898 Seattle 176 53.6 718 409 1898 T-AK


Milwaukee (1898) 92865 prop frt. 1898 Ballard 136 41.5 396 1898 T-AK


Oil City 155318 stern psgr 1898 Seattle 176 53.6 719 409 1898 T-AK


Pilgrim 150778 stern frt. 1898 Seattle 176 53.6 718 409 1898 T-AK


St. Michael 116816 stern frt. 1898 Seattle 176 53.6 718 409 1898 T-AK


Schwatka stern psgr 1898 Port Blakely 146 44.5 1898 T-AK


Tacoma (1898) 145773 stern frt. 1898 Seattle 176 53.6 718 409 1898 T-AK

Gasoline and Naphtha Launches

Not all boats were powered by steam! Some smaller boats, called launches, used gasoline or naphtha engines. These were often used for passengers or other smaller tasks.

Gasoline and naphtha launches of Western Washington
Name Registry Use Fuel Year built Where built Length Gross Tons Regis Tons IHP Crew size End Disposition
ft m


Addie V. 204732 psgr gasoline 1907 Aberdeen 27 8.2 7 5 1909 O


Advance (1907) 204838 psgr gasoline 1907 Hoquiam 39 11.9 14 10 1909 O


Bainbridge (gas launch) psgr gasoline 1908 Seattle 78 23.8
Chickaree (gas launch) 203023 psgr gasoline 1906 Tacoma 74 22.6 1942 B


Davy Jones 204748 yacht gasoline 1907 Seattle 73 22.3 1923 A


Iris 100646 naphtha 1896 South Bend 45 13.7 59
La Paloma 205974 tug gasoline 1922 Tacoma 60 18.3 C-G


Leota 205434 misc gasoline 1908 Dockton 45 13.7 14 10 1950 O


Lotus 206231 tug gasoline 1901 Tacoma 92 28.0 130 88 1903 T


Oriole (naphtha launch) 155260 psgr naphtha 1894 New Whatcom 34 10.4 7.0 6.0 1901 O


Rhododendron 206103 yacht gasoline 1909 Mount Vernon 45 13.7 17 11 1909 O


Uncle Jim 25325 psgr gasoline 1900 Astoria 45 13.7 13 9.0 1901 O

Ocean-Going Steam Tugs

These were larger, more powerful steam tugboats designed to handle big jobs, like pulling large ships or logs across long distances, even out in the open ocean.

Ocean-going and large steam tugs
Name Registry Type Use Year built Where built Length Gross Tons Regis Tons End Disposition
ft m


Rabboni 21642 prop tug 1865 San Francisco 92 28.0 97 49
Richard Holyoke 110335 prop tug 1877 Seabeck 115 35.1 181 91 1935 D


Roosevelt 202129 prop tug 1905 Verona, ME 182 55.5 654 445 1936 D


S.L. Mastick side tug 1869 Port Discovery 130 39.6 195 107 1899 D


Sea King prop tug 1883 San Francisco 120 36.6 1940 A


Tacoma (1877) 145114 prop tug 1877 San Francisco 136 41.5 239 128 1925 A


Tatoosh 145846 prop tug 1900 Seattle 154 46.9 277 154 1901 O


Tyee (1884) prop tug 1884 Port Ludlow 141 43.0 316 158
Wanderer 81275 prop tug 1890 Port Blakely 128 39.0 212 125 1950 A
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List of Puget Sound steamboats Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.