The Americana may have been built first, but the Canadiana was undeniably the most famous of the two "sister" steamships, and the one most closely associated with Crystal Beach Park.

The Canadiana was completed and launched two years after the Americana, in 1910.  It sailed the waters of Lake Erie for 28 years, making its final crossing in the midst of a treacherous storm and an on-board riot in 1956. The Canadiana ferry service was discontinued for the same reason its sister was taken out of service - the advance of the automobile. It was easier and more convenient (and faster) for patrons to drive to and from the park than it was for them to cross Lake Erie by boat. Unfortunately, the park and the surrounding village had not been designed to handle the crowded streets and traffic jams caused by the automobile, and this may have been another contributing factor to the park's eventual demise.

By the end of its service run, the Canadiana had made 6 round trips a day, carrying over 18 million passengers to and from the park.

Here is a photo of the Canadiana docked in Buffalo, NY. You can see the grain mills and the "Skyway" situated in the background.

After the Canadiana finished its years of service to Buffalo and Crystal Beach, it was moved to Cleveland, where it met with a horrifying accident.

For years, the Canadiana sat neglected while weather and the elements ravaged the proud steamer.  In recent years, it was towed into storage where it awaits restoration for possible use as a ferry, or a permanently docked restaurant.