The Steamship Historical Society of America Museum ship of the year award goes to the SS Keewatin
Congratulations to the SS KEEWATIN! This weekend SSHSA will present the coveted Museum Ship of the Year award, an honor bestowed on only one vessel annually.
Built in 1907 by Fairfield Works in Glasgow, Scotland, SS KEEWATIN was designed for the Canadian Pacific Railways continental route linking C.P.’s Owen Sound depot to Fort William Port Arthur on Lake Superior, before moving to Port McNicoll, Ontario in 1912. With Port McNicoll established as the new ‘super port’ and rail terminus, SS KEEWATIN took two and a half days to make the trip each way, including half a day traversing the Soo Locks.
In the last fifteen years of her working life, KEEWATIN operated under stringent regulations for wooden cabin steamships following the NORONIC disaster in 1949. She worked from 1907 to 1965 and never missed a sailing. Then, in order to continue service, rebuilding of the wooden superstructures was required. Instead, she was withdrawn from the passenger trade on November 29, 1965. The following year KEEWATIN operated a freight–only service, but in fall of 1966, she was sold for demolition.
Fortunately, before scrapping, in January 1967 KEEWATIN was rescued by Michigan entrepreneur Roland J. Peterson Sr. He operated her as the Keewatin Maritime Museum for 45 years, docked in Douglas, Michigan, across the river from the popular summer resort town of Saugatauk.
In 2011, Skyline Investments purchased the ship, and later, she was relocated to her original Port in Canada as a tourist attraction. After several years of uncertainty, in 2023, SS KEEWATIN was towed to her new home at the Great Lakes Museum in Kingston, Ontario, and opened in Spring 2024.
Today, she remains a unique Edwardian era Steamship, with an authentic quadruple expansion reciprocating engine, working steering gear and windlass. Of 3,800 similar ships in Great Britain between 1900 and 1920, she is the only remaining restored example in the world.
Tickets On Sale for MHSD Detroit River Cruise
Join members of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit aboard the passenger vessel Diamond Belle for a three-hour cruise from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, September 14, on the Detroit River.
We will do our best to get up close to freighter traffic. Snacks and refreshments will be available on the boat, which leaves from the Cullen Plaza at the foot of Rivard Street (1340 Atwater St.) Detroit.There is parking at Cullen Plaza (which often fills up early) and there is street and garage parking nearby.
Tickets are $28.50 (at the dock $30 cash or check only if space is still available). To buy tickets by mail, send a check, payable to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to MHSD Cruise, 1020 Iroquois St., Detroit, MI 48214. Late orders will not be mailed; they will be held for you at the dock. To pay by credit or debit card, go to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6672663.
No refunds after September 7. We are limiting the number to 100 passengers so there will be plenty of room to move about the boat. Reserve now!
Marine Historical Society of Detroit
ISMA Grand Lodge Convention Jan. 28-Feb. 1 in Duluth
Lodge # 12 has announced that sponsorships and convention book advertising are now open. For more info about sponsoring or advertising, please visit their website at https://ismalodge12.com
Twin Ports Lodge # 12.
