Maritime Legacy
Originally surrounded by forests and marshlands, early Bay City residents had little choice but to travel by water. From the first shipyard established along the banks of the Saginaw River in 1856, the increasing demand for boats of all kinds developed into a burgeoning ship building industry. The shipyards established by Frank Wheeler and James Davidson, were among the biggest on the Great Lakes and constructed some of the largest freighters to transport goods between Great Lakes’ communities. A former principal, Harry Defoe began a new career in ship building in 1905. During World War I, Defoe’s company won a U.S. Navy commission to supply torpedo chasers and mine planters. The demand for ships during World War II inspired Defoe to develop a revolutionary method of constructing ships. The “Roll-Over” method allowed welders to work easily on a ship’s hull before it was rolled over on an attached frame. Defoe spent the time between the wars building ships that hauled cargo, soldiers, the wealthy and one that carried three American presidents. During the Kennedy administration, that ship was christened The Honey Fitz.BaySail - Appledore Tall Ships
The Appledore Tall Ships provide three-hour public sailing excursions,
private charters, corporate team building programs, and dinner cruises
on the Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay. All sails depart from the
downtown Bay City dock. Our Dinner Cruises and Stargaze Sails will
allow you to enjoy an intimate dinner while peacefully sailing by some
of the most breathtaking views. Watch the sunset, then sail away under
the moonlight. This will be an evening you will not soon forget. Space
is limited. Reservations required.
Freighters
Saginaw River
Bay City, MI
Bay City, MI
As one of Michigan's busiest commercial ports, Bay City is visited by
hundreds of freighters each year during the shipping season. From the
perfect viewing spaces along the banks of the Saginaw River, hundreds of
people each year are amazed by the sheer size of these ocean-going
ships. If watching freighters is a favorite pasttime, pack a lunch, pull
up a waterfront park bench, and wait for the show to begin.
Historical Boat Tours
1020 North Water Street
Bay City, MI 48708
Phone: 989.891.BOAT
Bay City, MI 48708
Phone: 989.891.BOAT
Bay City Boat Lines provides narrated tours and private charter
service aboard the excursion vessels Princess Wenonah and Islander. Free
rides are offered weekdays at 10:00 a.m. during the summer season.
Dinner cruises and special events are offered periodically and the
vessels are available for private charters. The Princess Wenonah and
Islander depart from their dock on the east bank of the Saginaw River,
south of Veterans Memorial Bridge.
Kantzler Maritime Gallery
321 Washington Avenue
Bay City, MI 48708
Phone: 989-893-5733
Bay City, MI 48708
Phone: 989-893-5733
Located on the second floor of the Bay County Historical Museum, the
Kantzler Maritime Gallery includes interactive exhibits demonstrating
the importance of Bay City’s maritime past to the community, the Great
Lakes and the nation. From the unusual lives of Saginaw River Lighthouse
keepers to amazing methods of constructing ships, the Gallery tells the
tale with scale models, artifacts and one-of-a-kind photographs. A
17-minute video documentary created for the Gallery, "Legends, Logs and
Launches" is a journey through time along the banks of the Saginaw
River. The Museum is open Monday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. -
5:00 p.m. and Saturday - Sunday, noon - 4:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m. and Saturday - Sunday, noon - 4:00 p.m.
Maritime History Walk
Riverwalk @ Veterans Memorial Park
Bay City, MI
Bay City, MI
A stroll along the Riverwalk on the Saginaw River's west bank offers a
glimpse into Bay City's incredible maritime history. A footbridge
crosses a man-made inlet that once launched ships at James Davidson's
shipyard. Further down the bank, skeletons of 19th century wooden ships
peek out of the Saginaw River where they were burned rather than
dismantled so many years ago. The massive rudder from the schooner
Sacramento is an awesome reminder of the ingenuity of the Bay City
entrepreneurs who built the largest ships to ply the Great Lakes.
Saginaw River Rear Range Lighthouse
Saginaw River
Bay City, MI
Bay City, MI
The range light system, which is used by all mariners and maintained
by the Coast Guard throughout the United States, was invented by the 15
year old son of the keeper of Bay County's Saginaw River Lighthouse in
1860. The lighthouse is currently located on private property and
undergoing extensive renovation. It is not accessible, but may be viewed
from the water (see Tall Ship Sailing Adventures & Historical Boat
Tours).
Maritime Legacy