Home > Steamship William G. Mather Maritime Museum
The Steamship William G. Mather is a retired Great Lakes bulk freighter now restored as one of four maritime museums in the Great Lakes region. She transported such cargo's as ore, coal, stone, and grain to various ports throughout the Great Lakes. She was nicknamed, "The Ship That Built Cleveland" because Cleveland's steel mills were a frequent destination. - Type: Great Lakes Straight Deck Bulk Carrier
- Built: 1925, Ecorse, Michigan
- Launched: May 23, 1925
- At: Great Lakes Engineering Works, for Cleveland Cliffs Steamship Company
- Length: 618 feet
- Beam: 62 feet
- Draft: 32 feet (loaded)
- Gross Tonnage: 8,662 tons
- Cargo Capacity: 14,000 tons
- Crew: (1925-1964) 37 ; (1965-1980) 29
She was built in as the flagship for the Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company and was named in honor of the then-president company, William Gwinn Mather . The Mather remained the Cliff's flagship until the Edward B. Green (now the Kaye E. Barker of the Interlake Steamship Company fleet) was built in 1952. She remained an active part of the Cliffs's fleet until the end of the 1980 navigation season.
In order to supply the Allied Forces need for steel during World War II, the Mather led a convoy of 13 freighters in early 1941 through the ice-choked Upper Great Lakes to Duluth, Minnesota, setting a record for the first arrival in a northern port. This heroic effort was featured in the April 28, 1941 issue of Life Magazine. She was one of the first commercial Great Lakes vessels to be equipped with radar in 1946. In 1964, she became the very first American vessel to have an automated boiler system , manufactured by Bailey Controls of Cleveland, Ohio.
In 19851985 is a common year starting on Tuesday. Events January events January 1 Creation of the Internet's Domain Name System. January 17 British Telecom annouces they are going to abolish the famous red telephone boxes. January 23 A debate in the House of Lor, Cleveland-Cliffs sold its two remaining operating steamers to Rouge Steel Company , and gradually sold off its idle vessels until only the Mather remained, laid up in Toledo, OhioToledo is a city in Lucas County on the northern border of Ohio. In the 2002 census, the city had a population of 309,106, which is down as from the 2000 census, in which the city had a total population of 313,619. Toledo is known as the Glass City becaus where she had been since 1980. On December 10, 19871987 is a common year starting on Thursday. Events January January 1 Nunavut's capital changes it name to Iqaluit from Frobisher Bay. January 3 Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. January 4 An Amtrak train, Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. donated the steamer William G. Mather to the Great Lakes Historical Society to be restored and preserved as a museum shipA museum ship or sometimes memorial ship is an old ship that has been preserved and converted into a museum open to the public. There are several hundred of these around the world, often associated with maritime museums. Despite the long history of sea tr and floating maritime museum. After she was brought to Cleveland in October of 19881988 is a leap year starting on Friday (click on link for calendar). Events January January 2 Georgia celebrates its bicentennial statehood. January 9 Connecticut celebrates its bicentennial statehood. January 26 Australia celebrates its bicentennial day. and funding acquired from local foundations, corporations, and individuals, restoration began. Fire damage to the Mather's galleyAbraham Willaerts, painted 17th century. A galley is a warship propelled primarily by oars, but also having masts and sails. Galleys fought in the wars of ancient Persia, Greece, Carthage and Rome until the 4th century. They were revived by the medieval M and after cabin spaces required a major restoration effort. All over the vessel, most of the work was supplied by volunteers who repaired, cleaned, chipped, painted, and polished brass in order to restore the Mather's former elegance. In October 1990Events January January 3 Former leader of Panama Manuel Noriega surrenders to American forces. January 7 The Leaning Tower of Pisa is closed to the public due to safety concerns. January 9 Lt Gen Bazilio Olara Okello The man who led the coup aginst Dr Apo, she was moved to her permanent berth at the East Ninth Street Pier on Cleveland's North Coast Harbor .
In Sept. 19941994 is a common year starting on Saturday, and was designated the International year of the Family''. Events January events January 1 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) goes into effect January 6 Nancy Kerrigan is clubbed on the right leg by an the Great Lakes Historical Society divested itself of the museum. Due, in large part, to a groundswell of local support to keep the Mather in Cleveland, the Harbor Heritage Society was created to negotiate a new lease agreement with the city. Incorporated in June 1995, Harbor Heritage formally acquired the Mather on 22 July 1995 , and in 1996 continued to oversee the Mather's ongoing restoration, promotion, and development as a historic vessel. After 10 years of negotiations, the City Of Cleveland, represented by Mayor Jane Campbell signed a 40 year lease on 15 June 2003 allowing the Mather to stay at its East 9th berth.
On July 30, 1995 the Steamship William G Mather was dedicated as an American Society of Mechanical Engineers National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark for her 1954 installation of a single marine boiler and steam turbine engine , her 1964 installation of the Bailey 760 Boiler Control System and American Shipbuilding AmThrust dual propeller bow thruster - all firsts for U.S.-Flag Great Lakes vessels.
