Step Aboard The S.S. SicamousTurn on your speakers and press the play button above. Step aboard the S.S. Sicamous, and step into history. From 1914 through 1936 this luxurious sternwheeler transported passengers and freight along the shoreline of Okanagan Lake. Today, landlocked at Penticton’s Okanagan Marine Heritage Park, she’s a magnificently restored museum and a vibrant link to a bygone era. Pick up a copy of the walking-tour guide, and make your way around each deck before moving up to the next. On the cargo deck, you’ll want to check out the crew’s quarters and the massive steam engine. Kids of all ages will enjoy the 14'x46' model of the Kettle Valley Railway. If the train isn’t running when you’re there, ask an attendant to start it up. Then follow its progress along 500 feet of track through tunnels and over canyon trestles. The tiny logging operations, maintenance yards and docks are all miniature replicas of those typical in our region during the 1930s. Need a rental facility for an upcoming event? Head upstairs and take a look at the second deck: a fabulous dining hall with saloons at either end. Available for rent, it’s perfect for any number of occasions—birthdays, anniversaries, weddings—and what a superb setting for a theme party. (The dining hall is also home to professional live musical theatre, with new historically-inspired shows each summer.) The aptly named grand staircase curves up from the forward saloon to the third deck, where you’ll find a tribute to Penticton’s pioneer photographers. Don’t forget to climb to the pilot house for a captain’s view of Okanagan Lake; it’s accessible from the outer deck. While you’re outside exploring you’ll also get a good view of the nearby S.S. Naramata Tugboat, the Canadian National Tug #6, and the only remaining deck of the S.S. Okanagan. Come aboard between 10am and 6pm, daily in summer (from Victoria Day through Thanksgiving), and Tuesday through Saturday the remainder of the year. Celebrate the 96th Anniversary of the launch of the historic paddlewheeler, S.S. Sicamous and her sister ship, the tug S.S. Naramata. Both were built and launched at Okanagan Landing on the May long weekend in 1914, and both ships played a pivotal role in the creation of our modern city.
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