Leschi Steam Ferry and Early Lake Washington Transportation

The Leschi Steam Ferry was a game-changer for transportation on Lake Washington in the early 20th century.

The ferry operated from 1904 to 1935, providing a reliable and convenient way for people to travel between Seattle and the Eastside.

The Leschi Steam Ferry was named after Leschi, a prominent Native American leader.

The ferry was a popular mode of transportation, carrying thousands of passengers each year.

Leschi was launched on December 6, 1913, and was initially in service the same year. It was built by J. F. Duthie & Company.

Leschi was owned by the Seattle Port Commission and other parties. The vessel had a US registry number of 11875.

Leschi operated as a steam and motor ferry, later converted to a cannery vessel. It had a gross tonnage of 433 and a registered tonnage of 272.

Here are some key characteristics of Leschi:

Leschi operated on Lake Washington from 1913 to 1950, and afterwards on Puget Sound until 1967.

The Leschi steam ferry was a notable vessel on Lake Washington from 1913 to 1950. It was built by the J. F. Duthie & Company and launched on December 6, 1913.

The Leschi was initially a steam and motor ferry, later converted to a cannery vessel in 1969. It operated on Lake Washington and Puget Sound until 1986.

The ferry had a gross tonnage of 433 tons and a registered tonnage of 272 tons. It was 169 feet long, 33 feet wide, and 8.3 feet deep.

Here are the key specifications of the Leschi steam ferry:

The Leschi was equipped with steam engines, producing 700 horsepower, which was later converted to 500 horsepower diesel engines in 1931.

Ferries on Lake Washington have a rich history, dating back to 1900 with the launch of the King County ferry, which unfortunately stranded in the mud on its inaugural voyage.

The King County ferry was poorly built, with chronic mechanical problems, and was eventually condemned in 1908. It was replaced by the Washington.

Broaden your view: Lake Washington Shipyard

The Anderson yard at Houghton built a new ferry, the Lincoln, which was a steel-hulled propeller ferry with impressive dimensions: 580 tons, 147.3' long, 43' on the beam, and a 12.6' depth of hold.

The Lincoln was put into operation on the Madison Park-Kirkland run, while the Anderson yard also built another ferry, the Issaquah, a double-ender with upper levels for vehicles and an adjustable loading ramp.

The Issaquah was placed on the route between Leschi Park and Newport, stopping at Roanoke on Mercer Island, and connected with the newly built highway to Lake Sammamish.

In 1913, the Port of Seattle built the Leschi, a large steel-hulled sidewheel ferry with a speed of 14 knots, making it one of the fastest ferries on the lake.

The Leschi was the first publicly owned ferry in the region and was placed on the run between Leschi Park, Medina, and Bellevue.

Captain Anderson offered free service on his boats Fortuna and Atlanta to the launching of the Leschi, but even so, the ferries quickly made private operation on Lake Washington unprofitable for private passenger boats and ferries.

The former Columbia River motor ferry Tourist II was brought to the lake and run as a tourist boat under the name MV Kirkland.

For another approach, see: SS Park Victory