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History of the S.S. George E. Starr

The S.S. George E. Starr operated in late 1800’s in Puget Sound and out of Victoria, BC. She also served for a time in California and on the Columbia River. In 1881 the Oregon Railway and Navigation Co. under Henry Villard bought out the Starr Line and all their steamers including George E. Starr, Isabel, Alida, Otter and Annie Stewart. Villard ran the George E. Starr hard in a rate war between an older sidewheeler the Eliza Anderson. In 1889 the Eliza Anderson nearly sank the George E. Starr in a fog bound collision off Coupeville. By 1892 George E. Starr was transfered to California for a year. When she returned to Puget Sound it was under the control of the Northwestern Steamship Co. and she ran between Seattle, Port Townsend and the island ports.

Her brush with fame came on October 11, 1880 when she was considered elegant enough to serve as overnight accommodation for President Rutherford B. Hayes when he was the first president to travel west of the Rocky Mountains while in office.

Route: Puget Sound, Strait of Georgia, Admiralty Inlet, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Alaska, Columbia River, California.
Built in: J. F. T. Mitchell shipyard in Seattle
Built for: Puget Sound Steam Navigation Company (the Starr Line); La Conner Trading & Trans. Co.
Built: 1878
In service: 1879
Out of service: 1921
Fate: Abandoned, Lake Union
Notes: Also operated out of Victoria, BC, Canada
Type: Inland steamship
Tonnage: 473
Length: 148’ (45m)
Beam: 28’ (9m)
Depth: 9’ (3m) depth of hold
Decks: Three (freight, passenger, boat)
Installed power: Single-cylinder walking beam steam engine
Propulsion: Sidewheels

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