We have many unique and interesting artifacts in the Orcas Island Historical Museum. From Bison Antiquus’ nearly 15,000-year-old skull to rare photographs and recent acquisitions like an unpublished cowboy murder mystery our collection is varied, diverse and challenging to conserve. One of my favorite artifacts is a small, fairly non descript, some might say unimpressive piece of wood. Probably fashioned from teak by the looks of it. What makes it very interesting and important is its provenance. Provenance means an object’s story, where it came from, its place or source of origin.
This cylindrical piece of wood measures about four inches long and ¾ of inch in diameter and is stored in a plastic bag. It shows some wear as well as having been mechanically fashioned into its unique shape. It looks a bit like a piece of furniture. The artifact’s provenance is what brings wonder to this non-descript chunk of wood. It is a tiny piece of the 101 foot long Steam Ship Beaver. What makes the Beaver so important? The Beaver was the first steam-powered vessel in the Pacific Northwest. Built in Blackwall Shipyard, London, in 1835 she soon sailed around Cape Horn with her paddles stored. In March of 1836 she anchored off Fort Vancouver on the Columbia and her engines, boilers and paddles made operational. When not under sail she was powered by two 35 horsepower engines she also was fitted with four small brass cannons.
The paddle wheel steamer had a lengthy and illustrious career spanning more than five decades. She was regularly re-boilered every seven years since saltwater was used to feed her boilers. The Beaver served the Hudson Bay Company’s trading posts from Russian Alaska to the Columbia River. She helped establish Fort Victoria and the British Columbian coal industry and was converted later to coal firing. Even the Royal Navy commissioned her to survey the British Columbian coast.
She was in towboat service for the British Columbia Towing and Transportation Company from 1874 until 25 July 1888 when she ran aground. The historic Beaver came to grief at Prospect’s Point in Vancouver’s Stanley Park due to a drunken crew. For four years she languished on the rocks with souvenir seekers picking over her waterlogged remains until the wake of passing vessel sunk her. In museums from Tacoma to Victoria pieces of this maritime wonder are displayed or stored. Some how a tiny fragment this 109-ton vessel found its way into our Orcas Island Historical Museum. To me the piece appears to have been part of a cupboard railing to prevent china or glassware from crashing to the cabin deck during a fierce storm. I marvel at this tiny but important piece of history. To pause and contemplate what sights, stories and songs it witnessed and how it made its way to Eastsound nearly two centuries after sailing from London for the Northern Pacific Ocean. For much more on the illustrious career of the Beaver and where more of its remains can be found use Steamship Beaver in your internet search engine.