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to support the war effort. And in the years following World War II, keeping the Great Lakes shipping lanes clear from mid-March to mid-January helped fuel the growth of industry nationwide. “And she’s got quite a history here in the Straits,” Fisher added, “from ice-breaking to the rescue effort when the Cedarville went down.” In May 1965, the 588-foot freighter Cedarville collided with the Norwegian ship Topdalsfjord in a heavy fog and, while attempting to reach safety at Mackinaw City, rolled over and sank. Ten men lost their lives.
From sea to shore Transforming the Mackinaw from a working U.S. Coast Guard ship to a floating maritime museum wasn’t easy—or inexpensive. “We ran power to the ship, we winterized it, and we made it accessible for tours,” Fisher explained. “We put in a lot of half doors, and we put Plexiglas in the bridge so people could see everything but not touch. “We had to protect these areas, but we also wanted people to see what life on the ship was really like,” he said. “A lot of museum ships are stripped, sanitized, and we didn’t want that.” In the beginning, the museum staff offered simple deck tours. Every year, as the number of visitors increased, Pallagi said the team sought new ways of accommodating more people and improving the tours. “Right now, in conjunction with an Eagle Scout project, we’re working on opening the sick bay, as well as some machinery areas,” she said. “We’re also hoping to add more interactive displays with user-friendly technology and interactive children’s activities.” Education is an important component of the museum’s mission. In addition to expanded children’s activities and a popular sleep-aboard program, an education committee puts together school tours focusing on safety and seamanship. 56 LAKELANDBOATING.COM m a r c h 2 011
Another important element is community outreach. “When the boat was in port, she always was open for tours,” Pallagi said. “We want to continue that open, welcoming feeling.” The museum accomplishes this with its public events. Its second annual “Welcome Aboard!” Open House is scheduled for June 5, and the Mackinaw Maritime Festival will take place June 11. The festival will incorporate a special Cedarville ceremony. On July 4, the ship will be open to the public for a holiday celebration and for viewing fireworks. The ship also will host “Music on the Mack” on select evenings in July and August, and the museum’s 5th anniversary celebration will take place in late August. “People have heard of the Mackinaw who’ve never been to the Great Lakes,” Fisher marveled. “They come from Kansas, Montana. Her background has a mysterious flavor, and the museum shares that—when the guys walked off in 2006, they only took what they needed. This ship is still alive.” The Mackinaw is open for tours daily from May 20 to October 9. For details about supporting the museum through a new annual membership program, and to learn more, call 231-436-9825 or visit themackinaw.org. r
at press time, the museum announced it launched a capital campaign to purchase the dock at which the Mackinaw is berthed, and to construct a year-round, 20,000-square-foot education center adjacent to the ship. These illustrations (above) detail plans for the future museum grounds.
PHOTO BY jOHN L. WAGNEr ILLusTrATIONs BY sTEvE FrITz