Lurline was launched September 30, 1878 by Jacob Kamm, who with John C. Ainsworth had designed and built the first sternwheelers[2] in the Northwest, Jennie Clark and Carrie Ladd, nearly a quarter of a century before.

During the summer season she made one trip a week in the seaside traffic, and occasionally towed ships, competing with the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company's steamers.

In 1889 that company leased her, and, in command of Captain Pillsbury, she was operated on the Cascade route until 1892 when Kamm again commenced regular trips to Astoria.

Thompson gave the departing whistle, cast off lines and started down the river, leaving the Lurline to remain for a short time at the wharf to bring those who came a little late.

... Lively airs were discoursed by the military band, which lent additional interest to the occasion, and caused the time to pass rapidly.

Even so, following a hearing on December 10, 1894, both captains, who were prominent steamboat men, were found to be at fault for violating the navigation rules, and their licenses were suspended for seven days.

[6] In 1983, a new diesel-powered sternwheeler built for tourism purposes was given the name Lurdine – a union of Lurline and Undine – as a tribute to those two past vessels.