Oregon Maritime Museum on the steam sternwheeler “Portland“

97204 Portland, OR, United States of America (USA) (Oregon )

oregonmaritimemuseum.org:
Experience the adventure of life on our rivers when you explore the sternwheeler Portland, the last operating steam-powered sternwheel tug in the U.S. Portland is on the National Registry of Historic Places. The vessel uses the same technology as those at the turn of the 20th century, as evident when you tour the engine room. Volunteer docents will take you on a tour of the steamer, including the pilot house and engine room, and tell stories of the local rivers and their maritime history.

Discover ship models, maritime artifacts and memorabilia. See objects and displays that relate to steam power, sailing vessels, battleship Oregon, underwater diving, and the shipyards during WWII that built the liberty ships and the merchant marines who sailed them.

The Portland is the last steam-powered, sternwheel tugboat to be built in the United States. The Port of Portland took delivery on August 29, 1947 and she immediately went into service. The Portland assisted ships to dock, turn and pass through the narrow bridge spans on the Willamette River. Her massive rudders and backing power were essential for moving loaded ocean-going ships.

The deckhouse is rebuilt, and new systems are installed. The boat comes alive again when the sternwheel rotates and the sound of the whistle fills the valley!

The Portland is the last operating sternwheel steam towboat in the United States.

Vessels

Portland The sternwheel steam tug Portland is part of the Oregon Maritime Museum collection. It is our most visible presence to the public and it currently houses part of our collection and the Museum Store.

Russell (barge) is tied alongside the steamer Portland and provides extra storage and work space for the volunteer crew.

Mom’s Boat (gillnetter) is stored on the deck of the barge Russell and not open to the general public for safety reasons. Mom’s Boat was built during the winter of 1929-30 at the George & Barker cannery site in Astoria, Oregon.

Wikipedia:
Built at a time when steam paddlewheels were giving way to more modern propulsion systems, Portland was originally proposed as a diesel-powered screw-driven vessel, but at the request of the Columbia River Pilots Association she was built with more traditional propulsion. As a result, she was the last steam-powered, sternwheel tugboat built in the United States. She was also the last such vessel still in service in the U.S. at the time of her retirement in 1981. For these reasons, she is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as "an outstanding representative of her type and method of construction."

History
Name: Portland
Owner: Oregon Maritime Museum
Port of registry:  United States
Builder: Northwest Marine Iron Works of Portland, Oregon
Cost: $472,000 ($5.4 million in today's dollars)
Launched: May 24, 1947
In service: August 29, 1947
Out of service: 1981
Status: Museum ship

General characteristics
Type: Shallow draft inland tug
Tonnage: 928 GT; 733 NT
Length: 219 ft (67 m)
Beam: 42.1 ft (12.8 m)
Draft: 5.5 ft (1.7 m)
Installed power: 2 × one-cylinder, 900 hp (670 kW) steam engines
Propulsion: 25 ft (7.6 m) diameter, 26 ft (7.9 m) wide stern paddlewheel
Crew: two 7-man shifts and 1 cook

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