The Queen Of Seattle Paddle Wheel Cruises
29. Jun, 2010 
2 Comments
“GOLD! GOLD! GOLD! GOLD!” screamed the banner headline of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer on July 17, 1897. Gold Fever took the nation by storm as the news spread of the gold strike on the Klondike River in northwestern Canada, near the border with Alaska. Fortune seekers booked berths on steam ships to Alaska and then headed by riverboat up the Yukon to Dawson City. Seattle was the gateway to gold and miners would provision themselves here before they left to find riches.
The American riverboats were designed for shallow water so they were idea for transportation up and down the untamed Klondike and Yukon rivers. A number of sternwheelers were built around the turn of the century, in part due to the gold rush. The boats were powered by twin double-acting pistons which drive a large paddlewheel at the stern of the boat churning up foam as it moves through the water.
Now you can be part of Seattle’s history on the Queen of Seattle’s Paddle Wheel Cruises.
In November 2009 the newly named “Queen of Seattle” was moved to Seattle to provide private and public cruises of Lake Union and the Ship Canal waterways. She was built in the early 1980’s in Rancho Cordova, California and was originally christened the “Elizabeth Louise”. The vessel operated sightseeing cruises along the Sacramento River for 20 years before being sold and moved to Ketchikan, Alaska. Here she was renamed the “Alaska Queen” and operated narrated excursions in the harbor and channel areas of Ketchikan.
On the steam powered Queen of Seattle you will enjoy a scenic and relaxing trip cruising the freshwaters of Lake Union and the Ship Canal areas. Learn fun and historical information about Seattle during the Yukon Gold Rush days, along with fascinating facts about the sights you will be seeing. Our period costumed staff will also entertain you with a live “Klondike Cabaret Show” during your adventure.
Special offer: receive a 2 for 1 discount by booking online at http://www.queenofseattle.com or by calling reservations at 877-783-3616. When booking online please enter the promo code TOUR SAVER in the promotion code box. Reservations are required. Not combinable with any other promotions, offers or discounts.
It’s great to see that the former Elizabeth Louise is still being operated. I miss her, having worked on her for 20 years in Sacramento, California.