Photo by Manda Maggs Manda by Photo

SS Sicamous Stern Wheeler and Heritage Park

An Introduction to the SS Sicamous The SS Sicamous is the largest surviving stern wheeler in British Columbia. The Sicamous has been fully restored and is open as a museum and events venue. During the summer the public can explore the ship, and learn about this important chapter in the history of the Okanagan Valley.

The Story of the Sicamous The SS Sicamous is a luxury passenger vessel that was used to transport passengers and cargo to remote communities along the shores of . The ship was launched on May 19th 1914 from the Shipyards, at the north of the lake. The Sicamous travelled from to Okanagan Landing with 14 scheduled stops throughout. Her luxury and beauty attracted crowds at each dock, while travellers experienced elegance in dining and service renowned by Canadian Pacific.

After 22 years of faithful service the SS Sicamous was retired, and tied up to rest at the Okanagan Landing Ship Yards. For many vessels this would be the end, but for the SS Sicamous it was just the beginning.

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Life in Retirement For over a decade the SS Sicamous floated quietly at Okanagan Landing. Through the Second World War and into the busy post-war years there was little to attract attention to the steamer, and it was clear that the CPR would never run the ship again. In 1947 there were rumors that a buyer in Yellow Knife had plans for the ship, and after that showed an interest too. However the CPR intended for the Sicamous to be preserved as a historical vessel and refused to sell.

The Arrival of the SS Sicamous in Penticton The Penticton Gyro Club decided to take the project on. The City of Penticton agreed to purchase the Sicamous for $1.00 and on August 27th 1951, the steamer was towed back to Penticton, to her new home. Hundreds of people turned up to watch as the Sicamous was eased into a trench, and sand back filled to keep the vessel in place. The Sicamous was home again.

The Gyro Club Years The Penticton Gyro Club was faced with the challenging task of caring for the ship. Pipes needed to be replaced, a new stair way fitted, along with all manner of repairs and restorations. In the years following the Sicamous hosted many meetings, gatherings and special events, but caring for the ship proved a bigger job than anyone had anticipated.

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Changing Hands In 1950 the ship was home to the Penticton Museum, until a new museum building was completed in 1965. The ship was then used by a host of other businesses, including several restaurants, and even a wax work museum (complete with alligators and a scene from the last supper). In later years the entire upper deck was converted into a restaurant, with the ladies saloon converted into a kitchen.

The Neglected Years By the 1980’s it was clear that something needed to be done. These businesses had paid the bills, but also taken their toll on the ship. Two large ventilator shafts were carved through the ceiling of the ladies saloon, the beautiful clerestory windows were painted brown, and the pilot house was devoid of fittings and covered in graffiti. Years of scarce and haphazard repairs were showing their effect, and major structural work was needed if the Sicamous was going to survive.

The Restoration Begins In May 1988 the Society was founded to begin the restoring the SS Sicamous to its former glory. They had their work cut out for them, but the restaurant that had been on board was removed, and work was able to begin. Layers of paint, rust and neglect were scraped away. Rotten wood was replaced, the Ship’s wheel re-hung and the bilge was drained and cleaned out.

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The SS Sicamous is far from the only vessel to be cared for by the SS Sicamous Society. Here is a list of other heritage vessels and structures that can you can find in the Heritage Park:

SS Naramata (1914-1967) The Naramata is the only interior steam tug to be preserved in B.C. She was launched in 1914 and used to transport rail cars and barges across the lake. She would also break ice on the lake for other vessels during the winter with her steel hull. She was retired in 1967 and transported to Penticton in 1991 to rest beside the Sicamous.

Canadian National Tug #6 (1948-1973) Canadian National No. 6 was a tug built in England in 1948 by Canadian National, CPR’s rival company. She operated on Okanagan Lake until 1973. Like the SS Naramata, she transported fruit, mail, and other freight by barge from the communities along the lake to Kelowna, where it was loaded onto Canadian National trains and transported to . Canadian National No. 6 was towed to Penticton from Kelowna in 2007, where it joined the SS Sicamous and SS Naramata. No. 6 is the only vessel at the Heritage Park that was fueled by diesel instead of coal.

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SS Okanagan (1907–1934) The SS Okanagan was constructed at Okanagan Landing and launched in 1907 and offered spacious and luxurious passenger accommodations. The SS Okanagan was retired in 1934 and sold for scrap and spare parts. The Stern Saloon (a back room from the upper deck) was used as a beach hut for several years before being discovered and rescued by the Sicamous Society. It was moved to the SS Sicamous Heritage Park in 2002. The SS Okanagan Saloon will be undergoing restoration work later this year, thanks to a recent $10,000 donation from the Oktoberfest Society.

The Dredge Shed There is a large white building in one corner of the Heritage Park that has been named “The Dredge Shed”. This sits at the mouth of where the Penticton River used to run before the construction of the river channel. The building used to hold equipment for the dredge boats, which would dredge the bottom of the river to prevent flooding. It is now a heritage structure that houses many of our restoration activities.

The War Canoes The SS Sicamous Society recently added four antique War Canoes into the collection. War canoes could once be seen in use up and down the Okanagan Valley. In spite of their name the canoes were actually used for racing, and could seat a team of 12 rowers. The canoes are in the process of being restored.

War Canoe Canoe War Okanagan Lake (1910) Lake Okanagan

team team racing on on racing

Detail from a newly restored war canoe on board the SS Sicamous Stern Wheeler.

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Where Can I Find More Information? The members of the crew are happy to answer any questions, and if they do not know the answer will be happy to direct you to someone who does! If you would like to research the history of the Okanagan lake ships under your own steam, there are plenty of books available to you, and the local Penticton Library has an extensive local history section.

Where Can I Find Archive Photos? For archive photos of the lake ships you can contact the Penticton Museum and Archives. The photos are digitized and you can make an appointment to view them. The Okanagan Heritage Museum (Kelowna) also has an extensive digitized collection.

Extra Information for Teachers Have a look at the Canadian Pacific Rail Teaching Pack – Canadian Pacific Rail Children’s Information Pack . The crew is also happy to offer guided educational tours of the ship for school groups and interested members of the public.

More Information For more information please give the ship a call at 250-492-0403 or send an email to [email protected]

[email protected] | 250-492-0403

www.facebook.com/sssicamous

www.pinterest.com/sssicamous (A great source for photos!)

www.twitter.com/sssicamous

SS Sicamous Society

-Working to protect the Marine Heritage of the Okanagan-

www.sssicamous.ca

[email protected] | 250-492-0403