SS City of Milwaukee facts for kids
The SS City of Milwaukee at Elberta, Michigan, in 1990.
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | SS City of Milwaukee |
| Owner | Society for the Preservation of the SS City of Milwaukee |
| Operator |
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| Route | Muskegon-Milwaukee; Elberta(Frankfort)-Kewaunee/Manitowoc |
| Builder | Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company |
| Yard number | Hull number 261 |
| Launched | November 25, 1930 |
| Christened | November 25, 1930 |
| Completed | January 15, 1931 |
| Out of service | August 9, 1981 |
| Identification |
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| Status | Museum ship |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 2942 |
| Length | 354 ft (107.9 m) (LPP) |
| Beam | 56 ft (17.1 m) |
| Installed power | Steam |
| Propulsion | Two triple-expansion steam engines |
| Speed | 14.5 knots (26.9 km/h) |
| Capacity | 30-32 rail cars |
| Crew | 52 |
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City of Milwaukee (Great Lakes Car Ferry)
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 Location in Michigan
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| Location | Manistee, Michigan |
| NRHP reference No. | 90002221 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | 14 December 1990 |
| Designated NHL | 14 December 1990 |
The SS City of Milwaukee is a special type of ship called a Great Lakes railroad car ferry. For many years, it sailed across Lake Michigan, carrying train cars between Muskegon, Michigan, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Built in 1931, it is the only ship of its kind from before the 1940s that still exists today.
Now, the City of Milwaukee is a museum ship. You can visit it on Manistee Lake in Manistee, Michigan. It also serves as a bed and breakfast and a place for events. Because of its importance, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1990.
Contents
A Floating Train Transporter
The City of Milwaukee is a huge ship with a steel body, called a hull. It was designed to carry between 28 and 30 railroad cars full of cargo. Imagine a train driving right onto a boat! That's what this ship was made for.
The car deck has four sets of railroad tracks. The train cars were chained to extra rails to keep them from moving during the journey. This deck was mostly covered to protect the cars from the weather.
How the Ship Worked
The ship was powered by two huge, triple-expansion steam engines. These engines were fueled by four large boilers. At first, the boilers burned coal. In 1947, the ship was updated to use fuel oil instead.
The engines turned two giant propellers made of cast steel. Each propeller was 12 ft (3.7 m) wide and weighed over 10,000 pounds (4,500 kg)! These powerful engines allowed the ship to travel across the Great Lakes all year, even when the water was stormy or filled with ice.
Life on Board
The ship was like a small floating town. The deck above the car deck had rooms for the crew, a kitchen, a dining room for passengers, and a separate dining area for the crew.
Above that was the texas deck, which had rooms for the captain and other officers. The highest point was the pilot house, which was the ship's control center. This is where the crew steered the ship. There was also a smaller pilot house at the back of the ship to help with docking.
History of the Ship
The City of Milwaukee was built in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and it first set sail in 1931. It was built for the Grand Trunk Milwaukee Car Ferry Company.
A Sad Beginning
The ship was built to replace an older ferry, the SS Milwaukee. The SS Milwaukee was lost in a powerful storm on Lake Michigan in 1929. The new City of Milwaukee was designed to be stronger and safer.
Car ferries were very important on the Great Lakes. At their peak, 14 of these ships were in service, helping to transport goods across the water.
A Long Career on the Lake
The City of Milwaukee worked for the Grand Trunk company until 1978. After that, it was used by the Ann Arbor Railroad company. The ship was finally retired in 1982 after a long and useful career.
The City of Milwaukee Today
Today, the ship is carefully preserved in Manistee, Michigan. It is owned by a non-profit group called the Society for the Preservation of the S.S. City of Milwaukee.
A Living Museum
The ship is a museum that you can tour to see what life was like on a car ferry. It is also a unique bed and breakfast, so you can even spend the night on board!
Every October, the ship is turned into Manistee's Ghost Ship. It becomes a large haunted attraction to help raise money for its preservation.
The City of Milwaukee is special because it is the last traditional car ferry on the Great Lakes that hasn't been changed. It still has its original steam engine and beautiful woodwork.
See also
