Skibladner
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PS Skibladner is a paddle steamer operating on the lake of Mjøsa in Norway.
Skibladner is a sidewheel design, and her maiden voyage was on August 2, 1856, making her the world's oldest steamship still in operation. Originally intended to provide passage from the train station in Eidsvoll to the towns of Hamar, Gjøvik, and Lillehammer along Mjøsa, it still operates the same route, but now offers leisurely, scenic tours and culinary pleasures during the summer months.
The ship sank while in winter storage twice: once in 1937 and again in 1967. After having been raised it has undergone significant renovation.
On June 14, 2005, the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage decided to preserve Skibladner. This was the first time in Norway that an operating vehicle was listed.
The steamer is named after Skíðblaðnir, the ship of Freyr in Norse mythology.
[edit] References
- Skibladner (paddle steamer) by Axel Lindahl Nasjonalbiblioteket (Galleri NOR), Norsk Folkemuseum
- Hans H. Olstad and Eyolf Knutsen: Skibladner 1856-1981. A/S Oplandske Dampskibsselskap, 1981
