The SS Sicamous history is tied to Okanagan Lake transport and the development of Penticton’s waterfront. Built as a steel-hulled sternwheeler, the vessel now rests at the south end of the lake in Penticton. The Black Sea Motel is about a two-minute walk from the ship.
- Type: steel-hulled sternwheeler
- Built by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1914
- Final service run: 1936
- Address: 1065 Lakeshore Dr W., Penticton
What SS Sicamous is
The S.S. Sicamous is a preserved sternwheeler whose construction brought together work from across Canada. The city heritage record names James W. Troup as architect and Western Drydock and Shipbuilding Company as builder.
Its steel hull and boiler were built in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The hull travelled across Canada on 17 rail cars, then 150 men assembled it at Okanagan Landing. The ship launched on May 19, 1914, and made its maiden voyage that same day.
The heritage park identifies it as the last sternwheeler launched on Okanagan Lake. Its present place on the waterfront gives the vessel a lasting connection to the lake it once served.
The vessel’s place in Okanagan Lake transport
During its working years, the Sicamous carried passengers and the goods that connected communities around Okanagan Lake. Its cargo included machinery, fruit and mail, as well as passengers.
The heritage park describes a regular schedule of daily trips, except Sundays, between Penticton and Okanagan Landing, with stops along the way. The ship left Penticton each morning and docked there each night. It remained in service for 22 years, making its final run in 1936.
That routine made the vessel part of everyday lake transport rather than simply a passenger attraction. Its route linked Penticton with other lakeside stops while moving both people and supplies.
How did SS Sicamous return to Penticton?
The ship’s later history began with a proposal to bring it back to Penticton. In 1949, the Penticton Gyro Club approached the City of Penticton about acquiring the vessel for use as a clubhouse. The city and club arranged its purchase from Canadian Pacific, with preservation in its original state set as a condition.
The ship was towed back to Penticton in August 1951. It housed the Penticton Museum from 1958 to 1965, followed by commercial uses that included restaurants and a wax museum. The S.S. Sicamous Restoration Society formed in 1988 to restore the vessel and open it as a museum.
A second vessel also became part of the heritage park’s story: the S.S. Okanagan’s stern saloon was bought by the S.S. Sicamous Society in 1994, arrived in Penticton in 1998 and was moved to its current foundation in the park on March 29, 2002.
What can you see at SS Sicamous today?
The vessel’s preserved exterior is a visible reminder of its working years and its return to Penticton. You can find it at 1065 Lakeshore Dr W.; the City of Penticton gives that address for the ship.
For practical visit planning, the SS Sicamous Penticton visitor guide covers hours, tickets and visiting.
Before you go, check the official site before you go.
FAQs
Who built the S.S. Sicamous?
The city heritage record names Western Drydock and Shipbuilding Company as builder and James W. Troup as architect.
What did the ship carry?
It carried passengers, cargo, machinery, fruit and mail on Okanagan Lake.
Why was the ship brought back to Penticton?
The Penticton Gyro Club proposed acquiring it as a clubhouse, and the city and club arranged its purchase from Canadian Pacific. Preserving the vessel in its original state was a condition of the purchase.