Sternwheeler Jean facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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JEAN (steamboat)
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Jean moored in Portland, Oregon, in 2009
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 Location in Portland, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Location | North Portland Harbor, Columbia River, Portland, Oregon |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1938 |
| Architectural style | Steam-powered tugboat, former sternwheeler |
| NRHP reference No. | 89001001 |
| Added to NRHP | August 8, 1989 |
The Sternwheeler Jean is a special kind of boat called a steamboat. It used to work on the Willamette River in Oregon, a state in the United States. The Jean is a tugboat that is about 168 feet (51 meters) long. It was built in 1938.
Contents
The Steamboat Jean: A River Tug
The Jean was built to help move things on the river. It worked for a company called Western Transportation Company. This company was part of a bigger paper company. The Jean was in service, meaning it was working, until 1957.
Built for Work
When it was first built, the Jean was a sternwheeler. This means it had big paddle wheels at the back that pushed it through the water. These wheels were very important for its job as a tugboat. Tugboats are strong boats that pull other boats or barges.
A Journey Through Time
In August 1989, the Jean was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historical places and objects in the United States. At that time, the boat was in Lewiston, Idaho. It had been there since 1976.
The Jean moved around Lewiston a bit. Sometimes it was docked at Hells Gate State Park. By 1997, it was still in Lewiston, floating on the Snake River. However, its engines and other working parts had been taken out. This meant it could no longer move on its own.
Its owner, the James River Corporation, sold the tugboat in 1998. Then, in July 2004, the Jean was moved from Lewiston all the way to Portland, Oregon.
What Happened to Its Paddle Wheels?
After the Jean arrived in Portland, its two big paddle wheels were removed. Even without its paddle wheels, the Jean remains a historic boat. It reminds us of the old days of river travel and work.
A Historic Boat
The Jean is important because it shows us what river tugboats were like in the past. It is a piece of history from the rivers of Oregon and Idaho. Being on the National Register of Historic Places means it is recognized as a valuable part of American history.
