The Steam Ship That Saved Alaska | The Incredible Story of the S.S. Bear - Steam Culture

Steam shows up in some unexpected places — and this might be one of the most fascinating.

In this Steam Culture episode, Brent tells the unbelievable story of the S.S. Bear, a dual steam-powered sailing ship built in 1874 that went on to serve nearly 90 years in some of the harshest environments on Earth.

👇 Jump to Sections 👇
00:00 Intro — Can bears float?
00:10 Meet the S.S. Bear
00:25 Built in 1874 — Steam + Sail
00:30 Alaska Patrol & Coast Guard Service
01:00 Earthquake relief, Spanish Flu response, and more
01:13 The final voyage
01:20 Why the S.S. Bear still matters

At WARE, Steam Culture is about showing how steam connects to history, infrastructure, and the modern world — far beyond the boiler room.

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We publish new educational and culture-driven steam content every week.

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READ MORE ABOUT THE SHIP:
https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2018/december/more-nine-lives

https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/expedition-feature/21bear-features-arctic-cutter/




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