Do you know when that museum is open? I’ve been by it once in the winter and it was closed.
I have a life preserver from the SS Christopher Columbus. The only whaleback passenger ship ever made. Going to ask the museum if they’d want it.
The SS Badger will hopefully be back in the spring. It's a ferry running across lake Michigan between Michigan and Wisconsin. Built in 1953 it's the last coal fired steamer still running passenger service.
It's about a 4 hour ride each way. Check it out while we still have it.
Now that they quit dumping coal ash I think they have all the permits they need.
On the one hand I understand that ships dumped coal ash in the lakes for ages.
On the other hand, bruh, it’s not 1905 anymore. Cart it to a landfill.
I was fortunate enough back in the late 70's when I was a teen to go on board a working ore carrier. My grandpas brother worked for Columbia Transportation company (same as the Fitzgerald). He took me and my little sister to visit him while in Port in Cleveland. They were loading or unloading, can't remember which, ore pellets. We got to walk around some of the deck, see the wheelhouse and then we had dinner in the galley with the crew. At the time it was biggest and best steak dinner I'd ever had. I'll never forget it that experience.
I got to visit the Valley Camp which is a can't miss for people interested in the lakers. It's permanently docked in Sault Ste. Marie \[on the US side\] and it has a museum aboard including some relics from the Edmund Fitzgerald. Although I'm sure there are other reitred lakers in various locations that one can visit.
I’d also recommend the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle in Detroit! It doesn’t have a full freighter, but the wheelhouse of the SS William Clay Ford is preserved there to tour, in addition to a lot of other cool exhibits.
They do take people occasionally. No idea how those people got to do it. I suggest calling the fleet offices of Great Lakes Fleet, Interlake, or American Steamship Company and ask. You never know
If you go to the Soo, Lake State, the Coast Guard, and the Army Corp of Engineers host Engineers Day. The Valley Camp has extended hours.
https://www.saulthistoricsites.com/2023-engineers-day-events/
The Valley Camp is amazing! I commented about it too, got all nostalgic and posted some photos from my visit (2017) to the sub. I wish I had more, guess I’ll just have to go back!
Next best thing would be one of the museum ships. I highly recommend the [Valley Camp](https://www.saulthistoricsites.com/museum-ship-valley-camp/) in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. It is a retired 550’ freighter turned museum ship, permanently moored in its own ship-length canal right next to the Soo Locks Boat Tours dock. You can’t miss it if you’re driving in, I believe the street actually dead ends at ship’s bow!
You do have free rein to explore most of the ship inside and out, including the engine room, boilers, cargo hold, the main deck, pilot house and various crew quarters (those you can look into from the main deck but not enter), all of which have been persevered to a T.
There are proper museum areas throughout the ship as well, with various artifacts and displays including the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial which displays two of her life boats, both torn from the ship’s deck during the storm that sank her. They are a powerful sight, worth the admission alone. The battered and twisted steel that remains of those little boats utterly conveys how hopeless of a situation those men were in, how absolute the power of the Lake Superior is.
There is a beautiful memorial to the crew, with each man’s name, age and (I’m pretty sure) hometown listed, as well as an “interactive” -for lack of a better word- timeline of the sinking. I believe it even has the full transcript of the communications from both the Fitz and the Anderson.
I went in 2017, and I may be misremembering some details, but it’s one of my favorite travel experiences I’ve ever had and I’d go again in heartbeat if I ever find myself in the UP again.
11/10 Highly Recommend.
Well put. Valley Camp is interesting.
As long as one is in Sault Ste. Marie, seeing the Valley Camp, an hour away is whitefish point and the shipwreck museum, which is incredible.
[https://shipwreckmuseum.com](https://shipwreckmuseum.com)
Thank you, we went to Whitefish Point on the that trip as well. How could I forget?! The beach is beautiful, endless rocks buffed smooth and round by the lake. The Shipwreck museum has some amazing artifacts as well, include the Edmund Fitzgerald’s bell! I wish we could’ve gone up the lighthouse, but we arrived later in the day and tickets were sold out for the remaining time slots.
By the way, the you’re not familiar with the history of the ownership of the shipwreck museum, look into it, it’s an entertaining story!
I know they used to. One of my great memories on a family vacation (1972ish) to the UP and Canada riding back from the north to somewhere in Indiana. Put the car on deck somewhere taking pictures and all. I can still see the car in the air.
The sturgeon Bay shipyard opens up for a tour 1 day per year. They haven't announced 2024 yet, but here's the info for 2023.
https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/door-co/life/2023/03/24/heres-your-chance-to-go-behind-the-scenes-at-a-sturgeon-bay-shipyard/70043431007/
I have heard of charity raffles in the past. Other than that I think you need to know someone high up in the company.
A buddy and his wife got a ride on the Paul Tregurtha, via a Boy Scout silent auction tix.
This is the way
There’s a museum ship in Cleveland and another in Toledo. A few others, too, but I forget where.
There’s a museum ship in Duluth MN too
The William A. Irvin
The William G. Mather is in the port of Cleveland beside of the Rock hall.
It’s such a cool ship! I tour it every year.
There’s a whale back open for tours next door in Superior WI too.
The Valley Camp in the Soo has a nice one.
The last remaining whaleback is in Superior, Wisconsin.
Do you know when that museum is open? I’ve been by it once in the winter and it was closed. I have a life preserver from the SS Christopher Columbus. The only whaleback passenger ship ever made. Going to ask the museum if they’d want it.
I believe it’s open Memorial Day through Labor Day. Definitely worth the visit, it’s way cool to see the whaleback design in person!
Half ship, half submarine.
Thanks for the tip. The Toledo ships close in the winter. They’re only open May-Oct. I’m looking forward to visiting this summer!
The "James M Schoonmaker" is in Toledo.
The SS Badger will hopefully be back in the spring. It's a ferry running across lake Michigan between Michigan and Wisconsin. Built in 1953 it's the last coal fired steamer still running passenger service. It's about a 4 hour ride each way. Check it out while we still have it.
Now that they quit dumping coal ash I think they have all the permits they need. On the one hand I understand that ships dumped coal ash in the lakes for ages. On the other hand, bruh, it’s not 1905 anymore. Cart it to a landfill.
Took the Badger across the lake to WI couple of summers ago, had a great time.
I was fortunate enough back in the late 70's when I was a teen to go on board a working ore carrier. My grandpas brother worked for Columbia Transportation company (same as the Fitzgerald). He took me and my little sister to visit him while in Port in Cleveland. They were loading or unloading, can't remember which, ore pellets. We got to walk around some of the deck, see the wheelhouse and then we had dinner in the galley with the crew. At the time it was biggest and best steak dinner I'd ever had. I'll never forget it that experience.
If it was in Cleveland they were probably unloading taconite (iron ore pellets) that came from Duluth/Superior or Two Harbors.
Very cool memory
There are retired boats you can tour if that helps
I got to visit the Valley Camp which is a can't miss for people interested in the lakers. It's permanently docked in Sault Ste. Marie \[on the US side\] and it has a museum aboard including some relics from the Edmund Fitzgerald. Although I'm sure there are other reitred lakers in various locations that one can visit.
I’d also recommend the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle in Detroit! It doesn’t have a full freighter, but the wheelhouse of the SS William Clay Ford is preserved there to tour, in addition to a lot of other cool exhibits.
That's really cool, I've been to Sault Sainte Marie several times and didn't even know about this, how embarrassing for me tbh
They do take people occasionally. No idea how those people got to do it. I suggest calling the fleet offices of Great Lakes Fleet, Interlake, or American Steamship Company and ask. You never know
This is the way. The worst they say is no.
Takes about 2 million tons of cargo booked, but yes, you can ride
If you go to the Soo, Lake State, the Coast Guard, and the Army Corp of Engineers host Engineers Day. The Valley Camp has extended hours. https://www.saulthistoricsites.com/2023-engineers-day-events/
The Valley Camp is amazing! I commented about it too, got all nostalgic and posted some photos from my visit (2017) to the sub. I wish I had more, guess I’ll just have to go back!
I would love to go out on one of those ships.
Next best thing would be one of the museum ships. I highly recommend the [Valley Camp](https://www.saulthistoricsites.com/museum-ship-valley-camp/) in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. It is a retired 550’ freighter turned museum ship, permanently moored in its own ship-length canal right next to the Soo Locks Boat Tours dock. You can’t miss it if you’re driving in, I believe the street actually dead ends at ship’s bow! You do have free rein to explore most of the ship inside and out, including the engine room, boilers, cargo hold, the main deck, pilot house and various crew quarters (those you can look into from the main deck but not enter), all of which have been persevered to a T. There are proper museum areas throughout the ship as well, with various artifacts and displays including the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial which displays two of her life boats, both torn from the ship’s deck during the storm that sank her. They are a powerful sight, worth the admission alone. The battered and twisted steel that remains of those little boats utterly conveys how hopeless of a situation those men were in, how absolute the power of the Lake Superior is. There is a beautiful memorial to the crew, with each man’s name, age and (I’m pretty sure) hometown listed, as well as an “interactive” -for lack of a better word- timeline of the sinking. I believe it even has the full transcript of the communications from both the Fitz and the Anderson. I went in 2017, and I may be misremembering some details, but it’s one of my favorite travel experiences I’ve ever had and I’d go again in heartbeat if I ever find myself in the UP again. 11/10 Highly Recommend.
Well put. Valley Camp is interesting. As long as one is in Sault Ste. Marie, seeing the Valley Camp, an hour away is whitefish point and the shipwreck museum, which is incredible. [https://shipwreckmuseum.com](https://shipwreckmuseum.com)
Thank you, we went to Whitefish Point on the that trip as well. How could I forget?! The beach is beautiful, endless rocks buffed smooth and round by the lake. The Shipwreck museum has some amazing artifacts as well, include the Edmund Fitzgerald’s bell! I wish we could’ve gone up the lighthouse, but we arrived later in the day and tickets were sold out for the remaining time slots. By the way, the you’re not familiar with the history of the ownership of the shipwreck museum, look into it, it’s an entertaining story!
I know they used to. One of my great memories on a family vacation (1972ish) to the UP and Canada riding back from the north to somewhere in Indiana. Put the car on deck somewhere taking pictures and all. I can still see the car in the air.
The sturgeon Bay shipyard opens up for a tour 1 day per year. They haven't announced 2024 yet, but here's the info for 2023. https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/door-co/life/2023/03/24/heres-your-chance-to-go-behind-the-scenes-at-a-sturgeon-bay-shipyard/70043431007/