Peek onboard the coast guards christmas tree ship chicago. The modern christmas tree ship is celebrating 20 years. People have come to know the coast guard cutter mackinaw as the modern day christmas ship, and some await its arrival the same way people did on the banks. The trees are offloaded from the mackinaw by local youth volunteers, including sea cadets, venture crews, sea scouts and young marines and loaded onto trucks for. The 240foot icebreaker mackinaw wlbb30 arrived at navy pier on friday following a fiveday voyage on lake michigan. Uscgc mackinaw wlbb30 by mike fornes history books. Coast guard cutter mackinaw wlbb30 delivers christmas trees from northern michigan to chicago every year as a.
The legend of northern michigans christmas tree ship. The mackinaw s publicaffairs roles as the christmas tree ship and escort for mackinac island yacht races have been conducted on his watch as a reporter. Chicago christmas tree ship at navy pier navy pier. Chicago wls chicagos christmas tree ship sailed into navy pier friday morning. Chris ellison has illustrated childrens picture books and adult historical fiction for nearly 20 years. Chicagos christmas tree schooner, has gained notoriety through a number of books and via lee murdocks. The christmas tree ship and millions of other books are available for amazon. For the crew of the coast guard cutter mackinaw, its. Cutter mackinaw, which makes the journey from northern michigan to deliver a. The rouse simmons was the original christmas tree ship that came to.
Coast guard cutter mackinaw is moored at navy pier in chicago. Fornes has combined the best of his own photographs with those from u. Coast guard cutter mackinaw wlbb30 delivers christmas trees from northern michigan to chicago every year as a part of chicagos christmas ship program. The coast guard cutter mackinaw, serving as this years christmas ship and loaded with more than 1,200 christmas trees for needy families in chicago, will. Chicagos christmas tree ship uscgs mackinaw arrives at. Cutter mackinaw to mark 20th chicago christmas ship anniversary. In the late 1800s chicago families bought their christmas trees from the decks of schooners that had ferried them across lake michigan. Coast guard cutter mackinaw wlbb30 delivers christmas trees from northern michigan to chicago every year as a part of. Loaded with 1,200 christmas trees, mackinaw arrived in chicago to serve as this years christmas ship. Dave truitt founded the christmas tree ship committee. His book let them play was a 2006 notable social studies. Coast guard carries michigan christmas trees to chicago to.
Read this book and over 1 million others with a kindle unlimited membership. The us coast guard cutter mackinaw was loaded with 1,200 christmas trees from northern michigan last week and, on monday, left cheboygan county for chicago where the trees will be unloaded and delivered to families in need preserving the tradition of the christmas tree ship. Coast guard cutter mackinaw in cheboygan are getting ready for a special operation down in chicago. Images of modern america, a book about the by author mike fornes.
Longacre christmas tree schooner by charles vickery. Fornes has combined the best of his own photographs with. While the program is only 20 years old, its origins date back to end of the 1800s. Uscgc mackinaw delivers 1,500 christmas trees for the needy to navy pier.
Uscg cutter mackinaw to deliver trees to needy families as part of. Song about the famous christmas tree ship which sank on lake michigan in november of 1912 with a cargo of christmas trees bound for chicago. But as the 240foot coast guard cutter is delayed due to the thick ice on lake michigan, onyx and hogan grow concerned. Coast guard cutter mackinaw arrives at the navy pier acting as the christmas tree ship, on dec. Coast guard recreates legendary christmas tree ship after. Coast guard files and private collections in this stunning look at the ship. Cgc mackinaw delivers trees as the christmas tree ship. Michigans famous christmas tree ship sank 107 years ago. Chicagos christmas tree ship uscgs mackinaw arrives at navy pier song by lee murdock. Coast guard, and it continued its merry mission tuesday. Uscgc mackinaw loads up 1200 christmas trees for chicago.
Coast guard cutter mackinaw docked at chicagos navy pier this weekend carrying a load of 1,200 christmas trees from northern michigan, it did more than just ensure a happier holiday. Cg cutter mackinaw acts as chicagos christmas tree ship. The original ship named the rouse simmons was a threemasted schooner that was easily recognized by the waiting crowds when they saw a christmas tree tied to her main mast and her decks loaded. Christmas tree ship makes annual delivery for needy. Uscg cutter mackinaw loads up 1200 christmas trees for. The christmas tree ship is a longtime holiday tradition for the u. Lake michigan the shipwreck legend of michigans famed christmas tree ship remains shrouded in equal parts myth and mystery. Uscgc mackinaw wlbb30 images of modern america fornes, mike on. Once a year the uscgc mackinaw becomes the christmas tree ship, delivering trees to families in chicago who might otherwise have to go without a christmas tree. Coast guard cutter mackinaw continues the 100 year old tradition of bringing christmas trees to chicago children in need.
Todays christmas tree ship chicagos boating community reenactment of the olden days of the rouse simmons landing in chicago is now portrayed by the us coast guard cutter mackinaw. Coast guard cutter mackinaw traveled south from cheboygan, mich. Us coast guards christmas ship arrives at navy pier. The christmas tree ship dates back to the late 1800s early 1900s when the city of chicago would predominately get their christmas trees from.
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