SS
Sicamous is a good reminder of the history of
lake transportation in the Okanagan Valley. Before roads, there
were paddle wheel boats transporting people from one community
to another in the Okanagan Valley via lakes.
The S.S. Sicamous was the last
and the biggest ever passenger boat built by the CPR (Canadian
Pacific Railway). It was launched in 1914. The paddle wheel boats
were built to service the communities of the Okanagan Valley.
The 228 foot passenger boat transported
trappers, miners and forestry workers from lake community to lake
community. During lake travel the rich would occupy one of the
40 staterooms on board the SS Sicamous.
Later came the alternative
routes for travel in the Okanagan Valley like paved roads and
The Kettle Valley Railway
. The roads and trains was a direct result of the beaching the
S.S. Sicamous in 1951.
Today the passenger boat is a tourist attraction
for all to remember.
How to
Get to the SS Sicamous:
Travel to the community of Penticton. The passenger
boat is located on the south end of Okanagan Lake which is in
the north end of Penticton.
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