[1] Ross and his investors raised $28,000 to construct the ship, which was outfitted with oak and brass, an ornate music box, and a number of amenities.

Having reached Saskatoon on June 7, Ross attempted to navigate the ship safely through the rail bridges that spanned a South Saskatchewan River in full spring flood.

The high water concealed telegraph wires just beneath the surface, which became entangled in the ship's rudder, rendering the steering of the vessel impossible.

A second collection of artifacts was unearthed in 2012 by archaeologists, after work crews demolishing the Traffic Bridge had uncovered objects after drilling holes in the riverbed.

[7] A film crew consisting of director Leanne Schinkel, producer Nils Sorensen, and editor Corby Evenson recorded the entire excavation for a feature-length documentary entitled The Last Steamship: The Search for the SS City of Medicine Hat.