While Sweetheart G, Naynay, and I were being hosted by Grandma B in Victoria we visited Fisherman's Wharf. Once I had finished my ogling of houseboats, I saw this ship. What a fabulous combination of old sailing ship with sail rigging and giant side paddle wheels. I loved the curves, the bold stripes, the black and white paint, and the jumble of various elements. And once again, the internet came to my rescue and filled in the blanks. This is the S.S. Beaver, the second generation. The original one was built in 1835 in London. After a test drive in the Thames, the paddles were disassembled, and with the rigging of a tall ship attached, it sailed to Fort Vancouver, on the Columbia River. The voyage around the horn took 225 days. Then the external paddlewheels were attached, and it worked the Pacific Northwest until 1888 when it wrecked on the Vancouver B.C. Harbor entrance.
In 1966, this reconstruction of the S.S. Beaver was built by the Royal Canadian Navy. After being used in Centennial celebrations, the ship was bought and sold by many people. Currently it is being refitted and reburbished for use in the Vancouver B.C. Winter Olympics in 2010.