 Keenora atMarine Museum of Manitoba | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Canada | |
| Name | Keenora |
| Laid down | 1896 |
| Launched | 1897 |
| In service |
|
| Out of service | 1966 |
| Status | Museum ship since 1973 |
| General characteristics | |
| Length | 158 ft (48 m) |
| Speed | 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
SSKeenora is asteamboat onLake Winnipeg. The vessel began operations onLake of the Woods inOntario, where from she was transported toWinnipeg, Manitoba and rebuilt. Retired in the 1960s,Keenora is the centrepiece ofcollection at theMarine Museum of Manitoba inSelkirk, Manitoba.
The steamboatKeenora was built in 1897 for passenger and cargo traffic along theOntario'sLake of the Woods, where she ran successfully for over adecade, serving isolated communities on the lake as distant asRainy River. When theOntario and Rainy River Railway was built in 1901 traffic volumes began to decline, following the takeover of this railway byCanadian Northern Railway in 1915, the vessel was sold to a consortium of Winnipeg lawyers.Keenora was dismantled and transported in sections to Winnipeg on railroadflatcars in 1917.
Once reassembled in Winnipeg, she received an additional 30-foot (9.1 m) extension to her hull, increasing her overall length to 158 feet (48 m). For a season the ship served as a floating dance hall in downtown Winnipeg, but was later assigned to cargo and passenger traffic on Lake Winnipeg and theRed River. A total of 65 passenger cabins were constructed, and a new machinery was installed. The machinery guaranteed a speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).
The regular route started from Winnipeg, with a turnaround point located at the northern end of Lake Winnipeg, atWarren Landing on theBig Mossy Point. From Warren Landing the passengers and cargo were transferred to a smaller steamboat, which covered the last 30 kilometres (19 mi) toNorway House.Keenora was too large to enter the shallowNelson River.
Keenora's career ended in the 1960s when she could not meet the new maritime regulations. At first the ship was destined to be scrapped, but was salvaged to be thecornerstone of Marine Museum of Manitoba's collections.
50°08′47″N96°51′54″W / 50.146430°N 96.864925°W /50.146430; -96.864925
.svg)  | ThisCanadian history article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byadding missing information. |