Coos Bay in Coos County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)
Koos No. 2
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 24, 2015
1. Koos No. 2 Marker
Working On Water
Koos No. 2 was the second of several tugboats with the Koos name to work for the Knutson Towboat Company.
Built in 1924 by Frank Lowe at his Marshfield shipyard, Koos No. 2 went to work with her sister tug Koos.
The original Koos was used as a travel boat by the Simpson family to get from their estate at Shore Acres to the Coos Bay waterfront. The photograph below, taken in the early 1900s. is the Koos before its conversion to a tug.
What's in a name? According to Oregon Historical Names, Coos is the name given the Native Americans who lived in this area. The Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804 to 1807 made the first mention of them as Cook-Koo-Oose. Later spellings by others are Cahoose, Koo-as, Kowes, Koos, Coose, and finally, Coos.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 43° 22.081′ N, 124° 12.719′ W. Marker is in Coos Bay, Oregon, in Coos County. It is on Oregon Coast Highway (U.S. 101) north of Central Avenue, on the
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Southern Oregon and specifically on the Oregon Coast. It is also on the American Pacific Coast, in the Pacific Northwest, and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Shipping (here, next to this marker); Tug Power (a few steps from this marker); What is a Tugboat? (a few steps from this marker); Tugboat Ancestors (a few steps from this marker); The Changing Waterfront (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Changing Waterfront (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Changing Waterfront (within shouting distance of this marker);
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 24, 2015
2. Marker detail: The original Koos
Also see . . . Knutson Towboat Company History.
Knutson Towboat Company was founded in 1915 by Louis Knutson. "Captain Louie", as he was known, bought his first boat and had it converted to tow logs. The tug Koos was the first of many boats. Captain Louie had the Koos #2 built in 1924. Knutson Towboat Company expanded operation in 1940. Several log dumps and rafting operations were started in Coos County. (Submitted on February 18, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2015
3. Marker detail: Koos No. 4 1948
Koos No. 4 when it was launched, July 4, 1948.
Louis Knutson is standing on the bow. The tug is still in use.
Photograph courtesy Knutson Towboat Company
Photograph courtesy Knutson Towboat Company
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 24, 2015
4. Marker detail: Koos No. 2, about 1950
Koos No. 2 was retired in 1987 and donated to the community by the Knutson Towboat Company.
Photograph courtesy Knutson Towboat Company
Photograph courtesy Knutson Towboat Company
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2015
5. Koos No. 2 (marker located in front of restored tugboat)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 18, 2018. It was originally submitted on February 18, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 655 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 18, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
