National Museum of the Great Lakes Partners with Victory Cruise
Lines for LakeLorian Program, Announces Shore Excursions in Toledo
Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes has announced a new partnership with Victory Cruise Lines – the LakeLorian program and Toledo shore excursions – set to debut in the 2025 cruise season.
The program features museum-trained LakeLorians who will guide Victory’s guests through the history, science, and significance of the Great Lakes. As these storytellers lead discussions, give lectures, and host one-on-one sessions across Victory I and Victory II vessels, passengers will gain unique insight into each port visited and experience the region’s distinctive past through engaging discussions.
“The Victory Cruise Lines team has long been a valued supporter of the National Museum of the Great Lakes, and we are thrilled to reignite this partnership,” said Kate Fineske, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes. “Victory’s fleet will serve as floating extensions of our museum, delivering dynamic programming to travelers and creating a unique learning experience both on the waters of the Great Lakes and at the museum in Toledo. We look forward to sharing the science and stories of these extraordinary lakes.”
Additionally, in partnership with Destination Toledo, every sailing will feature an excursion to the National Museum of the Great Lakes. Guests will enjoy unique, behind-the-scenes access to Great Lakes experiences, content, and artifacts.
“We are excited to be a part of the launch of a new industry in Toledo through our partnership with the museum and Victory Cruise Lines,” said Lance Woodworth, President & CEO of Destination Toledo. “With the unique experiences offered by Victory Cruise Lines and the National Museum of the Great Lakes, cruise passengers will have a brand new and exclusive opportunity to take a deep dive into Great Lakes stories here in Toledo.”
Victory Cruise Lines is dedicated to offering exclusive, all-inclusive, small ship cruising experiences throughout the Great Lakes and Canadian coasts. This partnership solidifies Victory Cruise Lines’ commitment to not only showcasing the beautiful landscapes of the Great Lakes but also enriching its passengers’ understanding of the region. As John Waggoner, chairman and founder of Victory Cruise Lines, noted, “Our guests seek more than just a visit to ports – they crave an in-depth understanding of the Great Lakes. Working with the National Museum of the Great Lakes adds depth to the guest experience and allows us to celebrate this extraordinary region.”
Victory Cruise Lines’ 2025 season kicks off with a special New England & Canada Reunion Cruise, setting sail from Portland to Toronto on April 16, 2025, and offering guests a unique journey through the St. Lawrence Seaway and Canadian Maritimes. With a lineup of 36 Great Lakes voyages and a commitment to all-inclusive coastal cruising, Victory Cruise Lines hopes to deliver unforgettable experiences that touch all five Great Lakes. You can find out more at VictoryCruiseLines.com.
National Museum of the Great Lakes
St. Lawrence Seaway Closing Dates Announced
See the press release in the photo gallery.
SS Badger, the last operating coal-fired passenger steamship in the US, is an icon of Lake Michigan car ferries.
SS Badger is a historic vessel that encapsulates the relationship between Lake Michigan’s communities and the economic, cultural and historical landscape of the region.
Serena Stuettgen Special to Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
When you think of travel on Lake Michigan, you likely think of the S.S. Badger. It has been an iconic mode of transportation connecting communities and enhancing travel experiences for decades.
As the last operating coal-fired passenger steamship in the United States, the S.S. Badger carries a rich history that reflects the evolution of car ferries in the Great Lakes region.
This history began in 1875 when the Flint and Pere Marquette Railway launched the 175-foot steamer John Sherman to transport grain, freight and passengers between Ludington, Michigan, and Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
By 1892, the Ann Arbor Railroad expanded to create cross-lake services with the 260-foot wooden hull Ann Arbor 1, proving the viability of shipping cargo-filled railroad cars across Lake Michigan.
This success inspired the Flint and Pere Marquette Railway to develop its own fleet, resulting in the launch of the steel-hulled Pere Marquette in 1896. This vessel set design standards for many subsequent ferries because of its impressive performance.
More maritime history:Great Lakes freighter, launched in Manitowoc in 1953, transports enough barley in each load to make 40 million bottles of beer
The Lake Michigan fleet of car ferries expanded and adapted to economic conditions, thriving particularly during World War I when traffic increased. In 1918, the U.S. Railroad Administration formed the Lake Michigan Car Ferry Association to enhance efficiency by managing 11 vessels from the Ann Arbor, GrandTrunk and Pere Marquette railroads. This collaboration lasted until 1920, when the management of these ferries was returned to private ownership.
The 1920s brought prosperity to the car ferry industry, with new vessels ordered, though the Great Depression led to a decline in traffic and the retirement of older ships. In 1931, the City of Flint 32 set a world record at that time by completing 1,010 crossings of Lake Michigan.
In the early 1950s, the Ludington-based fleet received its final major additions with the S.S. Spartan and S.S. Badger, both hailed as the largest and most luxurious Great Lakes car ferries at that time. The S.S. Badger was constructed in 1952 by the Christy Corporation in Sturgeon Bay. Its inaugural voyage took place March 21, 1953, marking the beginning of a new era in regional transportation. The peak year for the service was 1955, with the ferries carrying more than 205,000 passengers and 204,460 freight cars in nearly 7,000 crossings.
However, by 1975, economic pressures led the C&O Railroad, which had acquired the Pere Marquette Railway, to abandon the car ferry business. The last operational voyage of the S.S. Badger occurred on Nov. 16, 1990.
However, that was not the end for S.S. Badger. In 1991, Charles Conrad from Ludington purchased the S.S. Badger and its sister ships, aiming to revive the ferry service. Conrad, whose father had worked for the Pere Marquette Railway, had a lifelong passion for the ferries and was dedicated to preserving their legacy.
What’s it like to ride the Badger? Ride aboard SS Badger is a throwback to a bygone era. Here’s the experience.
The S.S. Badger made its return debut in Ludington in May 1992, marking the revival of a long-standing tradition of car ferry service on Lake Michigan.
The S.S. Badger is more than just a mode of transportation; it is a historic vessel that encapsulates the relationship between Lake Michigan’s communities and the economic, cultural and historical landscape of the region. As it continues to operate, the S.S. Badger serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of maritime travel.
Serena Stuettgen is collections and archives manager at Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc.
Gales of November 8-9
A great slate of presentations this year. Also a form to order a raffle ticket for a ride on the Edwin H. Gott. Help support Duluth’s Maritime Museum
Bottom of Form
[David Schauer]
National Museum offers “Fitzgerald Experience 2024”
Toledo, OH – In honor of the 49th Anniversary of the loss of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald on November 10, 1975, the National Museum of the Great Lakes is offering a weekend of special tours. The Fitzgerald Experience is a guided tour of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, using the lake freighter and its similarities to the Edmund Fitzgerald to discuss the events of November 10, 1975, theories about the sinking and stories about the 29 crew members who were lost. This tour is approximately 75 minutes long.
Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Each tour will be limited to 8 people. Guests also receive a museum store discount of 10% (non-members) / 20% (members) off in-store purchases. Tours are offered every half hour from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 9 and from noon – 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 10.
Your tour purchase includes admission to the National Museum of the Great Lakes.
Due to its historical accuracy, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship is not ADA accessible. Narrow, steep staircases are common throughout the Schoonmaker and may provide difficulties in accessibility for some.
The Schoonmaker is also not heated and much of the tour is on uncovered decks. We encourage you to dress appropriately for the weather. If we determine that the weather has made these tours impossible, we will provide a refund of the ticket price (minus fees). If the program is cancelled, we are not planning a make-up date.
You can process a refund (minus fees) and cancel your ticket up to 7 days before the event. Go here to buy tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-fitzgerald-experience-2024-tickets-1043046027747?aff=ebemoffollowpublishemail&ref=eemail&utm_campaign=following_published_event&utm_content=follow_notification&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite
