Edward L. Ryerson
“100 Years ago we were steam-powered and before that we sailed on the wind… We are the Great Lakes Freighters!”
The Door County Maritime Museum is conducting another Freighter trip raffle this spring. As in the past, the popular raffle provides the winners with the unique opportunity to sail aboard an active Great Lakes freighter.
Central Marine Logistics is donating the Grand Prize trip. This prize is a trip for four adults to take place during the 2009 Great Lakes sailing season in July or August on a Central Marine Logistics vessel (Joseph L. Block, Wilfred Sykes, or Edward L. Ryerson).
“Trips on board a working freighter are normally only available to the shipping companies’ customers and are rarely available to the public,” says Trudy Herbst, the Museum’s Director of Development. “The scenic views from the guest lounges are spectacular!”
Herbst said area residents may remember touring the guest accommodations aboard the Ryerson when the Museum conducted tours some years ago.
Here are samples of the ports of call made during 2008:
- Wilfred Sykes – travels mainly on Lake Michigan, from Port Inland in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to Indiana Harbor, Indiana and return; a 3-4 day trip.
- Joseph L. Block -Indiana Harbor, Indiana to Port Inland in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, to Duluth, Minnesota, and return to Indiana Harbor, Indiana; a 4-5 day trip.
- Edward L. Ryerson – Duluth, Minnesota to Hamilton, Ontario and return; an 8-9 day roundtrip.
Departure ports and dates are at the discretion of Central Marine Logistics and will be coordinated with the winner. The winner and guests must be flexible concerning scheduling and port of departure and return and may be subject to acceptable background checks and require passports. Guests must be 21 or older and are required to adhere to all company policies and safety procedures. Sleeping accommodations do vary among the ships.
Tickets are $20 each or 6 for $100; raffle proceeds will benefit the Museum’s annual fund. The winner does not need to be present to win. The freighter drawing will take place at 9 p.m. on April 18, 2009 during Ports of Call at the Stone Harbor Resort in Sturgeon Bay. Tickets are available at the Door County Maritime Museum, 120 N. Madison Ave., Sturgeon Bay or by phone at 920.743.5958.
