Alaskan Sidewheeler

“The ‘Alaskan’ was built in 1883 by the Delaware River Iron Ship Building and Engine Works shipyard in Chester, Pennsylvania. She was a sidewheeler driven by a single cylinder vertical condensing walking-beam steam engine, which gave her high speed. Her iron hull was 276 feet (84 m) long, and she was rated at 1718 tons. She was built primarily for service on Puget Sound [and the Columbia River]”… according to an entry placed on Wikipedia (open the following link for additional information and photographs of the ship: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaskan_(sidewheeler).) The name of the ship can be seen on the bow. On the actual ship one would have seen the name at the base of the sidewheel: which in the painting is covered with waves.

The author of this oil on canvas is unknown: it is unsigned. The painting measures 15 1/2 by 24 1/2 inches; and framed, 19 by 28 inches. The canvas was backed with a sheet of decorative paper [reason unknown]. The frame is period and appears to be original to the piece. The overall condition is quite good.