Centennial: Steaming through the American Century

Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society Board Member Chris Winters spent five years creating a vivid record of life aboard the venerable Great Lakes steamboat S.S. St. Marys Challenger as she approached the centennial anniversary of her maiden voyage in 2006. A frequent visitor to Milwaukee’s harbor and reportedly the oldest operational freight ship in the world, the Challenger began her remarkable fresh water career on the Great Lakes on April 28, 1906—six years before the launch of R.M.S. Titanic. Granted unprecedented access to the vessel by her owners, Winters set off on a personal quest to record an old way of life in a new way by focusing revolutionary digital cameras on this revolutionary machine from another century. On April 28, 2006, the centennial anniversary of her maiden voyage from the Great Lakes Engineering Works, Challenger became the first vessel on the Great Lakes—and quite possibly in the history of seafaring—to eclipse 100 years while still in commercial service. Centennial: Steaming Through the American Century is a painstakingly researched, masterfully designed, 240-page hardcover that contains over 300 contemporary and archival images from the boat’s hardworking 100-year history. Copies are $50.00 each and may be ordered from our Online Shop – Books by clicking on the image or title above. Chris Winters is a Milwaukee-based photojournalist specializing in Great Lakes maritime subjects. Smitten with the lore of lake boats and the mythology surrounding the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, Winters is a veteran wreck diver, dynamic lecturer on Great Lakes shipwreck history, and a frequent contributor to Great Laker magazine. His documentary work has been exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the region.

Lt. Governor John Cherry Presents Check for $100,000

Michigan's Lieutenant Governor John Cherry visited Soo Locks Park on Monday, August 4, to present the City of Sault Ste. Marie and the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society with a ceremonial check for $100,000. Funds will be used to restore the exterior of the 1899 Weather Bureau Building that will shortly become the new administrative home of the Shipwreck Society. These funds are made available by the State of Michigan through the Clean Michigan Initiative Program of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Work on the building is on schedule and the big move should occur in early September. The Shipwreck Society's new administrative address will be 400 W. Portage Avenue, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783. Society members' next issue of Shipwreck Journal will have all the details!

Second Book in War of 1812 Action Series Now Available

The Shipwreck Society is pleased to present the second book in the Great Lakes, Great Guns series written by our current President, James Spurr. One Sloop and Slow Match continues the saga of two strong-willed men, related through marriage, bound by friendship, separated by war, as they face the challenge of battle on the Great Lakes during the War of 1812. Captain William Lee and Oliver Williams become embroiled in the cauldrons of the greatest battles to ever take place on the inland seas. Join them and a young Master Commandant Perry, initially in command of only tiny gunboats, as the struggle with Great Britain intensifies into a grueling game of wits, bloodshed and perseverance, and Perry rises to become one of our greatest American Heroes. “We have met the enemy. . .” From the Chicago Massacre to the blockade of U.S. Naval forces at Presque Isle on Lake Erie, James Spurr recreates the action with unerring historical accuracy while conveying the emotion of perilous uncertainty. One Sloop and Slow Match can be purchased from the Shipwreck Coast Museum Store; click on the image to visit our Online Shop - Books or call us at 888-492-3747.

TEACHER WORKSHOP SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 26-28, 2008

K-12 teachers in Michigan are invited to participate in a special Workshop for Teachers that will explore the historical and modern aspects of Great Lakes Shipping at Whitefish Point. This workshop was very well received last year, producing an excellent and popular curriculum guide. This workshop is limited to 12 teachers on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants will spend two nights in the Crews Quarters Building at Whitefish Point, in comfortable rooms, each with private bath. The workshop begins at 9 am on Monday, October 27 and ends at 3 pm Tuesday. Registration deadline is Monday, October 13. The goal of the workshop is the development of a pre/post-field trip activity guide for K-12 students to Whitefish Point. Each workshop participant will write one lesson that will become part of an activity guide for the Whitefish Point Lighthouse and Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, for teachers and youth group leaders to use before visiting this important historic site. The workshop registration fee is $125, includes two nights lodging, meals from Monday breakfast through Tuesday lunch, one credit from Michigan Technological University plus classroom teaching materials. It is sponsored by the Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute, Michigan Tech, and the Western Upper Peninsula Center for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education. Funding for the development of these lessons is provided by the Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute. To register, please contact Joan Chadde at 906-487-3341 or jchadde@mtu.edu. Click here to view the official workshop announcement: Teacher Workshop Flyer The workshop registration form may be downloaded here: Workshop Registration Form An index of maritime lessons created during the 2007 workshop can be found at: Maritime Lessons

Shipwreck Society Receives $40,000 Grant to Paint Light Tower

The famous Light Tower at Whitefish Point has been in continuous operation for 147 years. While the U.S. Coast Guard continues to maintain its life-saving beacon, the tower itself became property of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society in 1998. The Society is now responsible for maintaining this wonderful lighthouse, an icon for so many Michigan residents and visitors. The Society announces that Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program has awarded $40,000 in funding for tower restoration on a matching basis. While this money will go a long way, it is not enough to complete the entire project – a very major job. The Shipwreck Society needs to raise additional money, and we are asking our members and the public for help over the course of the summer. The Society is organizing a fundraising campaign for this purpose. If you would like to help preserve the Whitefish Point Lighthouse, please complete the web site contact form by clicking the title above or the picture of the light; or, simply call the Shipwreck Society offices toll-free at 800-635-1742 – ask for Sean Ley, Development Officer. The Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program is supported by sales of the “Save Our Lights” state license plates. Click on the link below to see a story about the 1861 tower and this important project, by Society Board Member Corey Adkins, of TV 9 & 10 News. Preserving the Whitefish Point Light Tower

Rifle Raffle 2008 - Tickets Now Available

The Shipwreck Society will be offering the last Commemorative Limited Edition Edmund Fitzgerald Rifle through its 2008 Raffle. Only 50 of these valuable collector’s pieces were handmade by Rocky Mountain Firearms of Ft. Collins, Colorado. This particular rifle, number 2 of 50, is the last remaining of the series, with a retail value over $3,000. First prize: Winchester Model 94 Lever-Action Rifle created to commemorate the 30th anniversary loss of the famous steamer. The rifle features a 24k gold-plated action, lever, and octagonal barrel, and is engraved with images of the Fitzgerald’s history and scenes of the Whitefish Point Light Station. The rifle comes with a custom leather-trimmed case. Second prize: Framed print of the famous oil painting Passage in Moonlight by artist David Conklin. This limited edition print is signed and numbered by the artist and Canadian Folksinger Gordon Lightfoot. Third prize: A weekend for two in the beautifully restored U.S. Coast Guard Crews Quarters building at Whitefish Point. Each private room features a bath, television, queen bed, and DSL internet. Tickets prices are $5.00 each or 5 tickets for $20.00. Ticket purchasers must be 18 years or older. The drawing for the 2008 raffle will be held in the Sault on Monday, December 8, 2008. Proceeds will be used to match a Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program grant to restore the Whitefish Point Light Tower. Tickets are now on sale and may be purchased by calling the Shipwreck Coast Museum Store at 888-492-3747. Raffle proceeds will be used to support GLSHS offshore underwater shipwreck research efforts. Michigan Lottery License # R-95713. Click on the title above or the image to visit our Online Shop, and then click on S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald Collectibles to purchase raffle tickets online.

Humanities Grant Received for Historic US Weather Bureau Building Exhibit

GLSHS sincerely thanks Michigan Humanities Council for a new $15,000 matching grant that will fund the exhibit to be installed in the west gallery space on the first floor: This project is made possible in part by a grant from Michigan Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. For more information about Michigan Humanities, please visit their web site at www.michiganhumanities.org The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society has signed a 25-year lease with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for use of the historic 1899 Weather Bureau Building, located in Locks Park, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The Society plans to move its Sault Ste. Marie offices into this building. The first floor will be used as exhibit space and will encourage visitors to attend the Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point; second floor for administrative offices; and third floor for the museum’s Great Lakes Images and Papers collection storage; this collection will be open to the public by appointment. Interior restoration of the building began in the spring of 2007. The Shipwreck Society graciously thanks 84 Lumber Company of Ann Arbor and Jeld-Wen Windows and Doors for their generous support. We also wish to thank Lock City Home Center of Sault Ste. Marie; Waste Management; and Kinross Correctional Facility for their kind contributions towards historic rehabilitation. The museum hopes to move into the building by summer 2008; depending on funding. Initial support for the exterior restoration and interior rehabilitation design plan was provided by the Michigan Department of History, Arts, and Libraries; the plan was prepared by U.P. Engineers & Architects of Marquette, Michigan, with assistance from the museum’s exhibit designer, Mr. James Kelly.

GLSHS Member Offers Tugboat for Sale

A Shipwreck Society member has asked us to tell website visitors that the Great Lakes tugboat Deschenes is up for sale. This is a 38-foot vessel, 10.5 foot beam, drawing 4.5 feet. It is powered by a 6-cylinder 343 Caterpillar diesel and offers comfortable accomodations including a head and shower. If you are interested, please call 906-322-2852. The tug is docked and can be seen in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

Society Mourns Loss of Fred and Barbara Leete

Longtime Shipwreck Society members Fred and Barbara Leete both passed away in an accident on February 28 at their home in Indiana. Fred's support of the Shipwreck Society was extraordinary over many years; he was instrumental in soliciting the Ontario Ministry of Culture seeking permission to raise the bell on behalf of family members; and he donated many historically valuable artifacts to the Surfboat House restoration and exhibit project. Fred and Barbara continually spread the good word about the mission and many programs and activities of the Shipwreck Society. Please click on the title above or image (Fred on the 1995 Fitzgerald Bell Recovery Expedition) to see the official press release as prepared by Mike Fornes of the Cheboygan Daily Tribune. We will miss you, Fred and Barbara.

Public Meeting a Success

The public meeting about the Shipwreck Museum's new Cultural Resource Management and Building Use Plan held on Wednesday, January 23 in Sault Ste. Marie, drew a crowd that appeared to express unanimous support for the plan. Comments heard, received by e-mail, or by written letter, have been reviewed and summarized by Diekema Hamann and then incorporated into a final version of this document. You may view or print a copy of the completed document by clicking on the link below. The public is invited to call 800-635-1742 toll-free for more information. Cultural Resource Management and Building Use Plan for Whitefish Point

Shipwreck Museum Wins 2007 State History Award

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum has been honored with a State History Award by the Historical Society of Michigan in the category Communications: Newsletters and Websites. The award was presented by HSM Board Member Steve Williams and accepted by Shipwreck Society Development Officer Sean Ley at the 133rd Annual State History Conference in Macomb County, Michigan, at the end of September. Since its inception in 1978, the Shipwreck Society has published a quarterly newsletter called The Shipwreck Journal which is mailed regularly to all members by either US Mail or electronic mail. It has a subscription of 1,700. The award was given for outstanding quality in both this newsletter and in this website. The State History Awards are the highest recognition presented by Michigan’s official historical society, which is also the oldest cultural organization in the state, established in 1828.

Shipwreck Society Locates Wreck of historic Cyprus

Lost within Lake Superior’s mysteries for 100 years, the wreck of the historic Cyprus has been located by the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society. She is a 420-foot steel steamer, lying on her port side in 460 feet of water, untouched, and completely intact but for sections of her wooden deck cabins destroyed in the sinking. As this discovery reveals such an excellent glimpse of life aboard on October 11, 1907, it has quickly become a major news event. Please click on the headline or image to visit the story under Press Releases. Please click on the following link to see the video story of this exciting find on the 9 & 10 News Website, produced by GLSHS Board Member Corey Adkins: Visit 9 & 10 News

Overnight Accommodations... Stay at the Light Station

A unique travel and educational experience available year round, you can now visit Whitefish Point Light Station and experience premium overnight accommodations for an evening or two with guided museum tours. Click image for details.

Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs

The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs serves to encourage, develop and facilitate an enriched environment of artistic, creative and cultural activity in Michigan. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum is again an Anchor Organization of MCACA for 2007-2008. MCACA goals are to strengthen arts and culture; support arts education; recognize, reflect and celebrate cultural pluralism and broaden cultural understanding; establish and facilitate communications networks; increase visibility and awareness of the arts and culture; encourage new, creative and innovative works of art; and expand and develop funding resources.

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Soo Locks Live Cam

Watch vessel passages, check out live cams at the locks. Click image and wait a few extra seconds while you are transferred to the secure site. Real time images may be delayed for security reasons.