Yosemite
Yosemite was a large wooden side-wheel steamboat that operated on western North American waterways from 1863 until its wreck in 1909.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Yosemite was a nineteenth-century American side-wheel steamboat whose long operating career connected California, British Columbia, and Puget Sound. Built entirely of wood in San Francisco in 1862 at the yard of John Gunder North, the vessel was unusually large for her construction. Following a major rebuild after a boiler explosion, she measured roughly 282 to 283 feet in length, had a beam of about 35 feet, and was rated at approximately 1,300 to 1,525 tons. Her propulsion came from a single-cylinder walking-beam steam engine driving paddle wheels around 32 feet in diameter. The vessel entered service in 1863 under the California Steam Navigation Company, initially running between San Francisco and Sacramento alongside Chrysopolis. Her California career was interrupted by a catastrophic boiler explosion at Rio Vista on October 12, 1865. The accident killed at least 58 people and injured or displaced many others, including passengers in the forward Chinese saloon. Yosemite received replacement boilers and was rebuilt, and a further boiler replacement in 1876 reportedly enabled speeds of up to 17 miles per hour. Increasing railroad competition caused her to be laid up at Oakland from 1879 to 1883. In 1883, John Irving, commodore of the Canadian Pacific Navigation Company, purchased Yosemite and moved her to Vancouver. She became an important vessel on routes in the lower Fraser River and nearby coastal waters. The steamer demonstrated considerable speed, completing the 72-nautical-mile Vancouver–Victoria run in four hours and 20 minutes, a record that remained until 1901. Her Canadian service also brought her into contact with public-health regulation: Vancouver officials twice imposed smallpox-related restrictions on passengers arriving from Victoria in July 1892, leading to legal disputes over where passengers could be landed. The Canadian Pacific Railway acquired the Canadian Pacific Navigation Company’s steamship operations in 1901. Yosemite was then retained mainly as a reserve and seasonal relief vessel as newer ships handled regular traffic. In 1906, she was sold to the Puget Sound Excursion Company, which prepared her for excursion work out of Seattle in connection with the Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition. A reconstruction extended the main deck and social hall forward and added a large dancing pavilion. From 1907, Yosemite carried large crowds to Bremerton, Bainbridge Island, and other Puget Sound destinations, with musical entertainment and catered food. She also hosted special charters, boxing matches, civic outings, and naval-viewing excursions. The vessel’s final period was marked by very heavy passenger loads and growing concern about excursion-boat safety. In 1908, she carried nearly the entire student body of the University of Washington to view the Great White Fleet, and the distribution of passengers caused a pronounced heel toward one side. On July 9, 1909, while approaching Bremerton through Port Orchard Narrows, Yosemite abruptly veered toward shore and struck bottom at speed. Her hull broke and she became a total loss. More than 1,000 people were aboard, but passengers and crew were rescued by nearby vessels and no deaths were reported. Allegations that the wreck had been intentional arose after a recent sale to real-estate promoter C. D. Hillman, who was later imprisoned, but the circumstances were never conclusively established. Yosemite therefore ended her career as a prominent example of the large wooden excursion and passenger steamers that served western North American inland waters.
History
Yosemite was constructed in San Francisco in 1862 by John Gunder North as a large wooden side-wheel steamer. Her scale was notable: after the 1865 rebuild she was approximately 282 feet long, with a beam of about 35 feet and a reported tonnage between 1,319 and 1,525 tons. A walking-beam steam engine powered paddle wheels roughly 32 feet in diameter. Contemporary descriptions emphasized her spacious decks, substantial cabin and dining facilities, speed, and attractive appearance, while also noting that she could be unstable in rough exposed water. The vessel entered service in 1863 for the California Steam Navigation Company, operating between San Francisco and Sacramento with Chrysopolis. On October 12, 1865, her boiler exploded as she departed Rio Vista. At least 58 people died, many others were injured or went missing, and the forward Chinese saloon suffered especially severe losses. Yosemite was repaired and fitted with new boilers, with another boiler replacement in 1876. The later machinery reportedly allowed her to reach 17 miles per hour. Railroad expansion reduced the commercial value of river steamers, and Yosemite remained laid up at Oakland from 1879 until 1883. John Irving, commodore of the Canadian Pacific Navigation Company, bought Yosemite in 1883 and transferred her to Vancouver. She served in Canadian waters, including the lower Fraser River and coastal routes, and became known for speed. Her four-hour-20-minute Vancouver–Victoria run established a record that stood until 1901. Health regulation occasionally disrupted her operations. During smallpox scares in July 1892, Vancouver officials refused twice to accept passengers arriving from Victoria, and legal action was required before normal landing arrangements could resume. The Canadian Pacific Railway absorbed the Canadian Pacific Navigation Company’s steamship activities in 1901. By then Yosemite was approaching 40 years of age and was used principally as a reserve vessel, seasonal supplement, and replacement for newer steamers. In 1906, she was sold to the Puget Sound Excursion Company, organized by Captain Thomas Grant for Seattle excursion business associated with the Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition. John B. Mitchell carried out a reconstruction that extended the forward portions of the main deck and social hall and installed a large dancing pavilion. From 1907, Yosemite transported crowds from Seattle to Bremerton, Bainbridge Island, and other Puget Sound destinations. She offered music, catering, sightseeing, and special charters. Her uses included university outings, civic and workplace excursions, temperance events, boxing matches, and trips to see naval vessels. The scale of these operations created safety concerns. In 1908, a voyage carrying nearly the entire University of Washington student body caused the ship to heel sharply as passengers gathered aboard. On July 9, 1909, Yosemite was wrecked in daylight in Port Orchard Narrows while approaching Bremerton. Captain Mike Edwards reported that the current affected the vessel differently than expected. Yosemite struck the shoreline or bottom at speed, broke her hull, and became a total loss. Nearby steamers rescued the passengers and crew; despite a reported complement of more than 1,000 people, no one was killed or drowned. Because the vessel had recently been sold to real-estate promoter C. D. Hillman, who was later imprisoned, rumors alleged deliberate or insurance-related wrecking. The available account does not establish those allegations, and the wreck was also consistent with the powerful tidal currents known in the area.
- 1909
Final wreck
[1]Yosemite struck in Port Orchard Narrows and was declared a total loss after passengers and crew were rescued.
- 1906
Sale to Puget Sound excursion operator
[1]The Puget Sound Excursion Company acquired Yosemite and prepared her for Seattle-based excursion operations.
- 1901
Acquisition by Canadian Pacific Railway
[1]Canadian Pacific Railway acquired the steamship business that owned Yosemite and retained her as a reserve and seasonal vessel.
- 1883
Transfer to Canadian Pacific Navigation
[1]John Irving purchased Yosemite and moved her to Vancouver for service in British Columbia waters.
- 1879
Laid up amid railroad competition
[1]Competition from railroads led to Yosemite being laid up at Oakland until her transfer to Canadian service.
- 1876
Further boiler replacement
[1]Another boiler replacement reportedly improved the steamer’s performance, with a stated speed of up to 17 miles per hour.
- 1865
Major boiler explosion and rebuild
[1]A catastrophic Rio Vista boiler explosion caused extensive casualties. Yosemite was rebuilt, including an extension of roughly 30 feet.
- 1863
California service begins
[1]The vessel entered scheduled service between San Francisco and Sacramento for the California Steam Navigation Company.
- 1862
Construction in San Francisco
[1]Yosemite was built as a large all-wood side-wheel steamer at John Gunder North’s San Francisco yard.
Products and positioning
A large, fast, spacious passenger and excursion steamer serving river, coastal, and inland-water routes in western North America.
Passenger side-wheel steamboat · 1862
Yosemite
A very large wooden side-wheel steamer with a walking-beam engine, broad decks, cabin and dining spaces, and paddle wheels approximately 32 feet in diameter. It served scheduled passenger routes, reserve duties, and later high-capacity excursions. After the 1906 sale, it received a forward-deck extension and a dancing pavilion for entertainment-focused Puget Sound operations.
Marketing campaigns
- 1907Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition excursion program
United States
The Puget Sound Excursion Company organized Yosemite’s Seattle-based excursion operations in connection with the Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition, using the rebuilt steamer for sightseeing and group travel around Puget Sound.
Outcome. Yosemite entered a new phase as a high-capacity excursion vessel, carrying large groups with music, catering, and expanded social facilities.
Brand decisions
1906
Conversion for excursion serviceGeneration changeBackground
The Puget Sound Excursion Company acquired the aging steamer for Seattle-area sightseeing and charter traffic.
Action taken
The vessel was rebuilt with an extended forward deck and social hall and a large dancing pavilion.
Aftermath
Yosemite resumed operations in 1907 as a large excursion platform for public, institutional, and commercial groups.
1883
Purchase for Canadian operationsM&ABackground
After being laid up in California amid railroad competition, Yosemite was acquired for the expanding Canadian Pacific Navigation network.
Action taken
John Irving purchased the steamer and transferred her to Vancouver.
Aftermath
Yosemite became a productive Canadian passenger vessel and established a Vancouver–Victoria speed record.
1865
Rebuild after the Rio Vista boiler explosionOtherBackground
A boiler explosion caused extensive loss of life and left the vessel requiring major reconstruction.
Action taken
Yosemite was rebuilt, lengthened, and fitted with replacement boilers.
Aftermath
The vessel returned to service and continued operating for more than four decades.
Recent events
- 1909
Yosemite wrecked in Port Orchard Narrows[1]
Other
The steamer veered toward shore while approaching Bremerton, struck bottom, broke her back, and was declared a total loss. More than 1,000 people aboard were rescued without reported fatalities.
- 1907
Rebuilt Yosemite begins Puget Sound excursion service[1]
Product generation · Product launch
After acquisition and reconstruction by the Puget Sound Excursion Company, Yosemite resumed service from Seattle with a larger forward deck, social spaces, and a dancing pavilion.
- 1901
Canadian Pacific Railway acquires Yosemite operations[1]
M&A
The Canadian Pacific Railway purchased the Canadian Pacific Navigation Company’s steamship operations and placed Yosemite in reserve and seasonal relief service.
- 1892
Smallpox landing disputes affect Vancouver service[1]
Regulation
Vancouver officials twice prevented Yosemite from landing passengers arriving from Victoria during smallpox-related quarantine actions, prompting court proceedings.
- 1883
Yosemite is acquired for Canadian service[1]
M&A
John Irving purchased the steamer for the Canadian Pacific Navigation Company and brought it to Vancouver.
- 1883
Yosemite sets Vancouver–Victoria speed record[1]
Other
The steamer completed the 72-nautical-mile route in four hours and 20 minutes, a record that lasted until 1901.
- 1865
Boiler explosion at Rio Vista kills at least 58[1]
Recall · Other
A boiler explosion aboard Yosemite caused mass fatalities and injuries while the vessel was leaving Rio Vista. The ship was subsequently rebuilt and fitted with replacement boilers.
- 1863
Yosemite enters California passenger service[1]
Product launch
The newly built sidewheeler began scheduled operations for the California Steam Navigation Company between San Francisco and Sacramento.
Sources1 sources
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