Built by the army in 1880 to carry hay and supplies for Fort Coeur d'Alene, the Amelia Wheaton was the first of a long list of steamers on this lake. Commercial steamboating began in 1884 with the mining rush. In later years, fleets of tallfunnelled boats hauled freight, towed logs, and carried passengers and excursionists. Steamers served the lake and river communities until highways changed the transportation pattern.