Truant (steamboat)

The Truant was a wooden-hulled sternwheel steamboat that operated on the Columbia River and its tributaries in the Pacific Northwest of North America from approximately 1875 to 1888.

Originally built near Wenatchee, Washington, its primary role was freight and passenger transport on the upper Columbia River, particularly between the communities above the Cascades Rapids, an area largely inaccessible to larger vessels navigating from the river's mouth. Its relatively shallow draft was well-suited to the fluctuating river levels and challenging navigation conditions prevalent in the region.

The Truant played a vital role in supporting the early settlement and economic development of the inland Pacific Northwest. It connected isolated agricultural and mining communities, facilitating the movement of goods, supplies, and people. It was often used in conjunction with portage railroads around the Cascades Rapids and the Celilo Falls to overcome these navigation barriers and provide continuous transport along the Columbia River system.

The vessel experienced various ownership changes throughout its lifespan. As railroad infrastructure expanded in the region, reducing the reliance on steamboats for transport, the Truant eventually became less profitable. It was likely decommissioned and dismantled in the late 1880s.

While not a particularly large or famous vessel, the Truant represents a typical example of the vital role that sternwheel steamboats played in the development of the inland Pacific Northwest during the late 19th century. Records of its specific routes, cargo, and notable passengers are scattered and incomplete, but its general operational history is documented in regional maritime histories and local newspaper archives.