WT Preston
Encyclopedia
The W.T. Preston is a specialized sternwheeler
that operated as a snagboat
, removing log jams and natural debris that prevented river navigation
on several Puget Sound
-area rivers. It is now the centerpiece of the Snagboat Heritage Center in Anacortes, Washington
. It was designated a National Historic Landmark
in 1989.
up to Blaine
, including the Skagit
, Stillaguamish
, and Snohomish
rivers. Dead trees that reached Puget Sound often became half-submerged "deadheads" that could pierce the hulls of wooden vessels. The federal government began building snagboats to remove obstructions and facilitate river based commerce. The W.T. Preston was named in honor of the only civilian engineer to work for the Army Corps of Engineers at the time of her construction in 1929. The Preston used the main single expansion reciprocating steam engines, as well as many pumps and other hardware from the first snagboat to work the rivers of the Puget Sound, her 1914 predecessor, the Swinomish.
The 163-foot, wooden-hulled vessel pulled snags, performed light dredging, and otherwise worked the waters of Puget Sound until 1939; when, the Army Corps of Engineers built a new superstructure
atop a welded steel hull
and transferred the stern wheel, main engines, smokestack, foredeck equipment, and other items onto the second W.T. Preston. The mission of the W.T. Preston changed throughout the years. As rivers were used less and less for transportation of goods, the Preston began to dredge, fight fires, and perform other general work. Throughout her commission, she even retrieved a sunken military bomber, and several automobiles.
The US Army Corps of Engineers operated the Preston out of the Hiram M. Chittenden
Locks
, in Seattle, Washington. This boat served the Puget Sound for more than forty years before the Army Corps retired her in 1981. Her replacement, the Puget, still operates today out of Preston's previous dock at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks.
. The vessel is a National Historic Landmark
and remains officially a designated city historic landmark in Seattle (its former location). The ship now operates as a history museum, and is owned and operated by the City of Anacortes' City Museum. In 2005, the Snagboat Heritage Center was built just North of the Preston. This interpretive center houses artifacts, models, maps and other historical text and information about the snagboats which maintained the area's navigable waterways.
Paddle steamer
A paddle steamer is a steamship or riverboat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans...
that operated as a snagboat
Snagboat
A snagboat is a river boat, resembling a barge with superstructure for crew accommodations, and deck-mounted cranes and hoists for removing snags and other obstructions from rivers and other shallow waterways....
, removing log jams and natural debris that prevented river navigation
Navigation
Navigation is the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another. It is also the term of art used for the specialized knowledge used by navigators to perform navigation tasks...
on several Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
-area rivers. It is now the centerpiece of the Snagboat Heritage Center in Anacortes, Washington
Anacortes, Washington
Anacortes is a city in Skagit County, Washington, United States. The name "Anacortes" is a consolidation of the name Anna Curtis, who was the wife of early Fidalgo Island settler Amos Bowman. Anacortes' population was 15,778 at the time of the 2010 census...
. It was designated a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1989.
History
The W.T. Preston operated from OlympiaOlympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
up to Blaine
Blaine, Washington
Blaine is a city in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. The city's northern boundary is the Canadian border. Blaine is the shared home of the Peace Arch international monument...
, including the Skagit
Skagit River
The Skagit River is a river in southwestern British Columbia in Canada and northwestern Washington in the United States, approximately 150 mi long...
, Stillaguamish
Stillaguamish River
The Stillaguamish River is a river in northwest Washington in the United States. It is mainly composed of two forks, the longer North Fork Stillaguamish and the South Fork Stillaguamish. The two forks join near Arlington. From there the Stillaguamish River proper flows for to Puget Sound...
, and Snohomish
Snohomish River
The Snohomish River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington, formed by the confluence of the Skykomish and Snoqualmie rivers near Monroe. It flows northwest entering Port Gardner Bay, part of Puget Sound, between Everett and Marysville. The Pilchuck River is its main tributary and joins the...
rivers. Dead trees that reached Puget Sound often became half-submerged "deadheads" that could pierce the hulls of wooden vessels. The federal government began building snagboats to remove obstructions and facilitate river based commerce. The W.T. Preston was named in honor of the only civilian engineer to work for the Army Corps of Engineers at the time of her construction in 1929. The Preston used the main single expansion reciprocating steam engines, as well as many pumps and other hardware from the first snagboat to work the rivers of the Puget Sound, her 1914 predecessor, the Swinomish.
The 163-foot, wooden-hulled vessel pulled snags, performed light dredging, and otherwise worked the waters of Puget Sound until 1939; when, the Army Corps of Engineers built a new superstructure
Superstructure
A superstructure is an upward extension of an existing structure above a baseline. This term is applied to various kinds of physical structures such as buildings, bridges, or ships...
atop a welded steel hull
Hull (watercraft)
A hull is the watertight body of a ship or boat. Above the hull is the superstructure and/or deckhouse, where present. The line where the hull meets the water surface is called the waterline.The structure of the hull varies depending on the vessel type...
and transferred the stern wheel, main engines, smokestack, foredeck equipment, and other items onto the second W.T. Preston. The mission of the W.T. Preston changed throughout the years. As rivers were used less and less for transportation of goods, the Preston began to dredge, fight fires, and perform other general work. Throughout her commission, she even retrieved a sunken military bomber, and several automobiles.
The US Army Corps of Engineers operated the Preston out of the Hiram M. Chittenden
Hiram M. Chittenden
Hiram Martin Chittenden was the Seattle district engineer for the Army Corps of Engineers for whom the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Seattle, Washington, were named.-Early Life:...
Locks
Hiram M. Chittenden Locks
The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks are a complex of locks that sit at the west end of Salmon Bay, part of Seattle's Lake Washington Ship Canal. They are known locally as the Ballard Locks after the neighborhood to their north...
, in Seattle, Washington. This boat served the Puget Sound for more than forty years before the Army Corps retired her in 1981. Her replacement, the Puget, still operates today out of Preston's previous dock at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks.
Snagboat Heritage Center
The W.T. Preston is now permanently dry berthed on the waterfront near Cap Sante, in Anacortes, WashingtonAnacortes, Washington
Anacortes is a city in Skagit County, Washington, United States. The name "Anacortes" is a consolidation of the name Anna Curtis, who was the wife of early Fidalgo Island settler Amos Bowman. Anacortes' population was 15,778 at the time of the 2010 census...
. The vessel is a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
and remains officially a designated city historic landmark in Seattle (its former location). The ship now operates as a history museum, and is owned and operated by the City of Anacortes' City Museum. In 2005, the Snagboat Heritage Center was built just North of the Preston. This interpretive center houses artifacts, models, maps and other historical text and information about the snagboats which maintained the area's navigable waterways.
See also
- Montgomery SnagboatMontgomery (snagboat)The Montgomery is a steam-powered sternwheel-propelled snagboat built in 1925 by the Charleston Dry Dock and Machine Company of Charleston, South Carolina, and operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers...
- Historic preservationHistoric preservationHistoric preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
- National Historic LandmarkNational Historic LandmarkA National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
- US Army Corps of Engineers
External links
- Anacortes History Museum
- Maritime Heritage Network
- US Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District
- Location of the W.T. Preston
- Samson V Maritime Museum A similar sternwheel snag-boat preserved as museum in New Westminster, BCNew Westminster, British ColumbiaNew Westminster is an historically important city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada, and is a member municipality of the Greater Vancouver Regional District. It was founded as the capital of the Colony of British Columbia ....