SS Milwaukee Clipper facts for kids
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|} The SS Milwaukee Clipper, also known as SS Clipper , is a famous old ship. It used to be called SS Juniata. This ship was a passenger ship and a car ferry. It sailed on almost all of the Great Lakes, except for Lake Ontario. Today, you can find this historic vessel docked in Muskegon, Michigan.
Contents
- The Ship's Early Life: SS Juniata
- Becoming the Milwaukee Clipper
- The Milwaukee Clipper as a Museum Ship
- Media and Legacy
- See also
The Ship's Early Life: SS Juniata
Loading copper onto a ship around 1905.
The ship we know as the Milwaukee Clipper first launched on December 22, 1904. It was built in Cleveland, Ohio, by the American Shipbuilding Company. When it first launched, its name was Juniata. It was built for the Anchor Line, which was the water travel part of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The Juniata had two "sister ships," meaning they were built similarly: the SS ''Tionesta'' from 1902 and the SS Octorara from 1910.
The Juniata was about 361 feet (110 m) long and 45 feet (14 m) wide. It could carry 350 passengers in special rooms and travel at 18 knots (about 20 miles per hour). When it was first built, the ship had a strong steel bottom and a wooden upper part. For the Pennsylvania Railroad, it carried people and goods between Buffalo, New York and Duluth, Minnesota until 1915.
In 1915, a new law called the Panama Canal Act came into effect. This law stopped railroads from owning steamships to prevent them from having too much control (a monopoly). Because of this law, the Pennsylvania Railroad had to sell its Anchor Line. The Juniata and other ships were sold to a new company called the Great Lakes Transit Corporation. Under this new owner, the ship continued to carry passengers on its usual routes for another 20 years. In 1933, the Juniata even took passengers to and from Chicago for the Chicago World's Fair. However, in 1936, the Juniata was put out of service. This happened because of tough economic times and new safety rules for wooden passenger ships.
Becoming the Milwaukee Clipper
The Juniata stayed docked in Buffalo until 1940. Then, it was bought by the Wisconsin & Michigan Steamship Company. This company was part of the McKee family's Sand Products Corporation. They wanted to rebuild the ship and use it for passengers on Lake Michigan. The Juniata went through a big update at the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company.
During this update, the ship's engines were changed to burn fuel oil instead of coal. All the old wooden rooms and upper parts were taken off. They were replaced with new steel parts. This was done to meet new fire safety rules for ships. These rules were made after a big ship fire in 1934. The ship's new, sleek front smokestack is actually just for looks; it doesn't let out engine smoke. This design was a special touch by naval architect George G. Sharp. His ideas for fireproof ships were first used on the Juniata. This type of smokestack became common on many new ships. George Sharp is famous for designing three historic ships: the Milwaukee Clipper, the SS Lane Victory, and the NS Savannah.
The ship passing sand dunes at the entrance to the harbor in Muskegon.
The newly updated ship had many cool features. It had air-conditioned rooms, a playroom for kids, a movie theater, and a dance floor with a live band. There was also a soda fountain, a bar, a cafeteria, and comfy lounge areas. It could even carry 120 cars! On June 2, 1941, the ship was renamed Milwaukee Clipper. Patricia McKee, whose father owned the ship, officially gave it its new name. The very next day, it made its first trip from Milwaukee to Muskegon.
As the Milwaukee Clipper, the ship sailed between Muskegon and Milwaukee. It also took passengers on trips all over Lake Michigan, visiting many other ports. It did this for 29 years. People called it the "Queen of the Great Lakes." In the summer, it carried about 900 passengers and 120 cars. The ship used about 5,500 US gallons (21,000 L; 4,600 imp gal) of oil for each round trip. On weekdays, it made two round trips, each taking 7 hours. On weekends, it made three shorter, 6-hour trips. The crew had about 105 to 109 people, with about 55 of them just taking care of the passengers. In the 1950s, a ticket cost $3.33, and it was an extra $8.00 to bring a car.
During World War II, the Milwaukee Clipper helped by moving important defense materials. The ship also had agreements with car companies to carry new cars throughout its time in service. The main passenger season was from May to September. After that, it could still carry a smaller number of passengers and up to 250 cars.
By 1970, the company planned to replace the Milwaukee Clipper with a newer, bigger ship called the Aquarama. However, plans to make the Milwaukee harbor deeper for the Aquarama didn't work out. Even though 1970 was a very busy year for the Milwaukee Clipper, it stopped its regular trips after that year.
The Milwaukee Clipper as a Museum Ship
In 1977, the Milwaukee Clipper was bought by a group from Chicago. They wanted to use it for trips between Chicago and Milwaukee, a route once popular with another ship. But after the ship was checked for repairs, the money for the project fell through. The Milwaukee Clipper was then taken by the U.S. Marshal. After some legal issues, the ship was returned to the buyer. In 1980, it was towed to Chicago to become a museum ship.
In December 1983, the Milwaukee Clipper was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Then, in May 1989, it was named a National Historic Landmark. You can see both of these special plaques on the ship today. In 1990, the ship was sold to Hammond, Indiana. It became the main attraction for their large new boat dock. Later, a new casino ship replaced the Milwaukee Clipper. So, it was towed to South Chicago and stored on the Calumet River. Finally, on December 2, 1997, it was sold to be a museum in Muskegon, Michigan, which was its old home port.
Today, the Milwaukee Clipper is docked in Muskegon, Michigan. It's at the old Grand Trunk Ferry dock. Volunteers from the SS Milwaukee Clipper Preservation, Inc organization are working to restore it. In the summer, visitors can tour parts of the ship. You can see the pilothouse (where the captain steers), some passenger rooms, and crew areas. You can also visit the dance floor, soda fountain, and movie theater. Many of the ship's original Art Deco style furniture pieces are still on board. Warren McArthur designed this furniture. The frames were all made of aluminum. He designed furniture for many places, and each piece for the Clipper is unique and easy to spot. There are also displays of items from both the Juniata and Milwaukee Clipper. These include memory books, photos, brochures, and dishes. The Clipper still has the last American Quadruple Expansion Steam Engine.
Media and Legacy
A 45-minute movie called The Milwaukee Clipper: A Legend Saved was made in 1997 by filmmaker Mark Howell. It was shown on PBS. The movie includes interviews with people who worked on the ship. It also has old color film of the Milwaukee Clipper being named, sailing, and other activities.
See also
- Lake Express, a ferry service that started in 2004 on the same route
- U.S. Route 16, a road route that the Milwaukee Clipper helped connect across Lake Michigan
- SS Keewatin
- SS Badger
History | |
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Name |
|
Owner |
|
Operator | Milwaukee Clipper Preservation INC |
Route | Muskegon to Milwaukee |
Ordered | 1904 |
Builder |
|
Way number | 1190 |
Laid down | 1904 |
Launched | December 22, 1904 |
Christened | 1904 |
Completed | 1905 |
Acquired | 1905 |
Maiden voyage | As rebuilt, June 3, 1941 |
Identification |
|
Status | Docked in Muskegon, Michigan |
Notes | Museum Ship |
General characteristics | |
Tonnage | |
Length | 361 ft (110 m) |
Beam | 45 ft (14 m) |
Height | 89 |
Draft | 19 |
Depth | 28 ft (8.5 m) |
Decks | 6 |
Installed power | American Quadruple Expansion Steam |
Propulsion | Single Screw |
Speed | 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
Capacity | 900 Passengers |
Crew | 55 Crew |
Notes | Last Ship of Her Kind |
SS Milwaukee Clipper (passenger steamship)
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![]() Milwaukee Clipper docked at Muskegon, Michigan
|
|
Location | Grand Trunk Ferry Dock Muskegon, Michigan (formerly Chicago, Illinois and Hammond, Indiana) |
Area | Muskegon |
Built | 1904, Rebuilt 1941 |
Architect | American Shipbuilding Co. Redesigned in 1940 by George G. Sharp |
Architectural style | Art Deco, Streamlined Moderne |
NRHP reference No. | 83003570 |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | December 8, 1983 |
Designated NHL | April 11, 1989 |