National Museum of the Great Lakes Second
Wave Capital Campaign Nears Completion
Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is entering a new chapter as its Second Wave expansion project progresses. With the foundation set and structural build underway, the museum is reaching out to the community for a final push of support. Now is your chance to contribute to the future legacy of this historic institution.
The Second Wave expansion will add 5,000 square feet of new space, allowing the museum to showcase traveling Smithsonian exhibits, introduce new permanent exhibits, and create dedicated spaces for community education.
“By supporting this campaign, donors are actively preserving Great Lakes history, fueling ongoing education, revitalizing our neighborhood, and boosting the economic vitality of our region,” said Kate Fineske, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes.
Donations can be made online at nmgl.org/thesecondwave or by calling the museum at 419-214-5000. Contributions of all sizes are welcome, and donors will receive exclusive Second Wave thank you gifts as a token of appreciation. Donors contributing more than $500 will also be recognized on our donor wall.
“This is the moment to make a lasting impact on our museum and the communities we serve,” said Sara Smith, the Museum’s Director of Institutional Advancement. As we conclude our public campaign, join in this effort and ensure the National Museum of the Great Lakes remains a beacon of pride and inspiration for generations to come. For more information or to make a donation,
The National Museum of the Great Lakes
Are wildfires out west a boon for shipping on the Great Lakes?
Canada exports plenty of maple syrup and poutine, eh?
And our neighbors to the north are also the world’s biggest producers of potash, a type of fertilizer that’s mined in the heart of the continent and used by farmers across the globe.
These salmon-colored potash pebbles are mainly transported west by train to ports in British Columbia and Portland, Oregon. But as climate change causes more wildfires in western North America, it can screw up train routes.
“More potash is being shipped through Thunder Bay and into the St. Lawrence Seaway than we’ve seen in the past,” said Karen Proud, CEO of Fertilizer Canada.
In fact, potash traffic on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway is nearly double what it was last year. It gets loaded onto boats at Thunder Bay in Lake Superior then floats out to the Atlantic.
With climate change contributing to more wildfires out west, supply chains may increasingly rely on the Great Lakes in the years to come.
So the next freighter you see on the horizon might have a bounty of potash on board.
Interlochen Public Radio
Cruise stops in Cleveland will double in 2025 with return of Victory ships
CLEVELAND, OH – The number of cruise stops in Cleveland is set to double next year with the return of Victory Cruise Lines to the Great Lakes. The small cruise line’s two ships will relaunch in 2025 after a dormant 2024.
David S. Gutheil, chief commercial officer for the Port of Cleveland, said he expects more than 50 cruise ship calls in Cleveland in 2025, up from 23 in 2024. The Victory ships will account for approximately 30 of those stops, he said.
“This is very good news for Cleveland and the Great Lakes and shows that interest in cruising on Great Lakes is strong,” Gutheil said. “Cleveland is one of the most popular stops on the itineraries.”
The two Victory ships – Victory I and Victory II – have been regulars in Great Lakes cruising for nearly a decade. In 2019, the two ships were purchased by American Queen Steamboat Co., which changed its name to American Queen Voyages in 2021. Earlier this year, American Queen Voyages declared bankruptcy and shut down, putting numerous vessels up for sale at auction.
John Waggoner – a previous owner of American Queen Steamboat Co. – bought the two former Victory ships (which had been renamed) with plans to relaunch them in spring 2025. Sailings are available starting in mid-April.
The two ships, which hold up to 190 passengers each, feature 95 staterooms, several restaurants, lounges and other features.
Stops in Cleveland will be included on several different Great Lakes itineraries, which typically travel between Chicago and Toronto and vice versa. The ships dock at the Port of Cleveland, just west of Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Other ports of call include Niagara Falls, Detroit, Mackinac Island and Sault Ste. Marie.
Other cruise ships expected in Cleveland next year include the Viking Polaris and Viking Octantis, Pearl Mist, Le Champlain and Hamburg.
Cleveland.com
Sailor, cookbook author Catherine Schmuck to offer lecture at Toledo
Join the National Museum of the Great Lakes, Toledo, OH, for the first presentation of the 2024 Fall Lecture Series presented by Larry & Karen Bettcher. Offered as a hybrid event, participants can choose when registering to take part in-person at the National Museum of the Great Lakes or online via Zoom.
We welcome Catherine Schmuck as she presents on her experience as a freighter chef with “A Glimpse into the Life of a Great Lakes Ship’s Cook” on Wednesday, September 11, from 7 pm to 8:30 pm.
Schmuck will share her unique experiences cooking for the crews aboard the ships of the Great Lakes. Through her storytelling, gain insight into the day-to-day life on a Great Lakes ship. The event will also include a Q&A session, where Catherine will answer your questions about life and work on a ship.
This lecture is free, but registration is required. Donations are always happily accepted.
About the Speaker: Catherine Schmuck
Catherine Schmuck is a multifaceted talent—sailor, restaurateur, blogger, photographer, cookbook, and children’s book author. Born to German immigrant parents, she embraced a life of travel and adventure, beginning her shipping career at the age of 19 on the CSL fleet’s Frontenac. After 13 years at sea, she co-founded a restaurant in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, with her sister Lorraine.
In 2019, after 24 years away from sailing, Catherine returned to the sea and began blogging about her culinary adventures on board. Her storytelling and photography quickly gained a following, leading to the publication of her cookbooks, “Recipes and Stories as I Sail Through My Day” and “More Recipes and Stories as We Navigate Healthier Eating.” She also fulfilled a lifelong dream by writing the children’s book, “The Stowaway Adventures of Mitchell Mouse.” When she’s not sailing or writing, Catherine enjoys meeting her readers at book signings and events. Follow her journey at www.shiptoshorechef.com and @shiptoshorechef.
National Museum of the Great Lakes
Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise tickets now on sale to public
Ticket sales for the annual Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise, scheduled for Saturday, September 7, from 1-4 p.m. aboard the the Diamond Jack River Tours boat DIAMOND QUEEN, are now open to the public.
Passengers will have the opportunity to photograph vessels and historic sites along the Detroit River and enjoy a narration by local history expert Ken Borg. The number of passengers will be limited to 100 so there will be lots of room to move about the boat. Tickets are now on sale at MHSD.org. Or pay by check to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit for $28.50 and mailed to MHSD Cruise,1020 Iroquois, Detroit, MI, 48214. If there are any tickets left the day of sailing, they will be sold at the dock for $30.
Marine Historical Society of Detroit
