Steamboat Days on the Rivers by Frederick Wallace Wilson and Earle K. Stewart details the transformative era of sternwheelers navigating the vital waterways of the Pacific Northwest. The historical account centers heavily on the Columbia and Willamette rivers, tracing the perilous maritime routes from the bustling docks of Portland, Oregon, up through the treacherous Cascade Rapids and Celilo Falls. The narrative explores how these riverboats served as the economic lifeblood connecting coastal settlements in Washington and Oregon to the distant, rugged interior as far inland as Lewiston, Idaho, via the Snake River. Through vivid descriptions of these arterial waterways, the book captures the geography of a region unified by its reliance on riverborne commerce and transportation.

Steam-navigation, Steam-navigation Columbia River, United States Columbia River

Wilson, F.W. The lure of the river Stewart, E.K. Steamboats on the Columbia

"Text reprinted from Oregon Historical Quarterly, March and June, 1933, March, 1950."

"Text reprinted from Oregon Historical Quarterly, March and June, 1933, March, 1950."