Douglas County Historical Society

11/16/2024

Craft Fair today from 9 am - 3pm. 1101 John Avenue.

10/16/2024

Interior photographs are more limited than exterior in our archives-not certain why. There’s been recent activity on social media about The Library and Zona Rosa restaurants so wanted to share a few interior photos we have from The Library, which opened in 1978 at 1408 Tower Avenue. Enjoy!

10/09/2024

The only passenger whaleback ship built right here in West Superior!

The whaleback Christopher Columbus with the logo and lettering of the World’s Fair Steamship Co. on its bow, circa 1893 (Image Source: University of Wisconsin Madison Libraries Digital Collection – The Great Lakes Maritime History Project).

The date, location and name of the photographer are not included in the collection notes for the image Based on the history of the vessel, it was taken circa 1893. The photograph is from the collection of the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society. of Milwaukee, Wis.

Additional Historical Information

Launched in 1893, the Christopher Columbus was built in West Superior, Wis. by the American Steel Barge Co. for the World’s Fair Steamship Co. of Chicago, Ill. The 362-foot vessel (LOA) was the only whaleback designed solely for use in passenger service.

The ship was initially used to shuttle people between downtown Chicago and the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, also known as the Chicago World’s Fair. Located on a 630-acre site on the city’s south side, the event attracted an average of 150,000 visitors per day.

During the Exposition’s six-month run, the Columbus reportedly carried over two million passengers, including 6,300 people on one run. When the event ended on Oct. 30, 1893, the vessel was transferred to the Columbian Whaleback Steamship Co. of New York, N.Y.

From 1894 to 1897, the ship was chartered by the Harrison Line of Chicago and operated in the excursion trade between Chicago and Milwaukee, Wis. It was sold to the Chicago & Milwaukee Steamship Co. of Milwaukee in 1898.

The whaleback was then chartered by the Goodrich Transportation Co. of Chicago. For the next 30 plus years, the vessel continued to operate in the excursion trade between Chicago and Milwaukee. It soon became known as the “Marriage Ship of the Lakes.”

During 1902 sailing season, the ship made 72 round trips between the two cities and carried 18,500 passengers. It was sold to Goodrich Transportation in 1909. On June 30, 1917, the vessel collided with a shore-side water tower on the Milwaukee River.

The whaleback was being turned by a tug at the time of the incident. Its superstructure partially collapsed onto its forward deck leading to the loss of 16 lives. The vessel was repaired at Manitowoc, Wis., and returned to service in 1918.

In 1930, Goodrich Transportation declared bankruptcy and went into receivership. After the end of the 1932 sailing season, the ship was laid up at Manitowoc. It was purchased at auction by William F. Price of Chicago in 1933 but remained in layup.

The whaleback continued to be laid up in Manitowoc after it was sold to the Chriscarala Corp. of Duluth, Minn. in 1934. Two years later, the vessel was sold for scrap and dismantled at Manitowoc by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co.

A number of artifacts salvaged from the Christopher Columbus later became part of the permanent collection of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc.

Information Sources:
https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/item/434499
https://greatlakeships.org/2904877/data?n=2
https://greatlakeships.org/3648383/data?n=1
https://www.greatlakesvesselhistory.com/histories-by-name/c/christopher-columbus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World’s_Columbian_Exposition
https://www.architecture.org/learn/resources/architecture-dictionary/entry/world-s-columbian-exposition-of-1893/

10/07/2024

Monday, October 14th at the Amnicon Town Hall 8985 E U.S. Highway 2. Learn about the early settlement of Clevedon.

10/05/2024

Thanks to The City of Superior's Public Art Commission, we'll be able to collaborate on a new temporary exhibit that discusses collections with the community through the work of local artist Susanna Gaunt. We'll keep you posted as we develop a timeline for the project and how you can be involved in the discussions :-)

Art restoration, workshops, ukulele lessons and interactive art installation hit the mark for public art funding.

09/17/2024

There's a special behind the scenes of the SS Meteor fundraiser on Sat, the 28th. We'll be there to support Superior Public Museums: Fairlawn, SS Meteor, Firehouse & Police Museum. Tickets are going quick, we hope to see you there.... tickets are available on their website at: https://superiorpublicmuseums.org/tours/

09/06/2024

A HUGE thank you to all the community sponsors of our 2nd annual golf scramble. Today was a tremendous success and we couldn’t have done it without the wonderful teams that participated and our sponsors.

We hope you all had a great time-we know we sure did!

We will see you all again in 2025!

09/03/2024

Tickets for Steven Solkela's La Serva Padrona are available at https://bookeo.com/dchswi

Northland — Steve Solkela introduces La Serva Padrona: Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s Comic Opera, September 11-15. The shows will take place at The Lyric Center, Virginia, MN & Douglas Co. Historical Society, Superior, Wi. Show and ticket information can be found here. Categories: Coffee Convers...

09/02/2024

Happy Labor Day Superior!

Did you know Labor Day became an official state holiday in 1893 and a national holiday in 1894?

Here’s a photo from 1945 of workers and soldiers marching together in Milwaukee's first Labor Day parade in many years, sponsored by the CIO, to demonstrate the common interest of all of the American people: jobs, security, and peace.

Learn about the origins of Labor Day: https://wihist.org/4cBERED

📸: September 3, 1945 | WHI Image ID 3214

11/06/2023

Thanks to Superior Telegram for the coverage of our upcoming DCHS Home Tour: Roosevelt Terrace

A fundraiser invites participants to tour three of the historic townhouses.

11/04/2023

A new addition to our book store. (Purchase in person or online)

One of Superior’s most beloved teachers shares a collection of poems that speak to anyone wishing to understand themselves, their families, and the world we live in today. By Gary Banker

By Gary Banker One of Superior’s most beloved teachers shares a collection of poems that speak to anyone wishing to understand themselves, their families, and the world we live in...

10/18/2023

Thank you, thank you!! We are so appreciative of the support!

10/05/2023

Local historian, author, and former DCHS board member Tony Dierckins is delivering a presentation on “Duluth’s Lost Industries Along the St. Louis River,” as the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Program’s ongoing River Talks Series.
"The shores of the lower St. Louis River were once lined with ore and coal docks, grain terminals, flour and lumber mills, steel plants, shipyards and dozens of other manufacturers. From the brownstone quarries of Fond du Lac to Gary New Duluth’s giant Minnesota Steel Plant, this presentation explains the rise and demise of the industries that both built the Zenith City and altered and contaminated Lake Superior’s largest tributary.
This presentation is FREE and open to the public. It begins at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at the Lake Superior Estuarium (on Barker's Island next to the S.S. Meteor). Refreshments will be provided" -Tony

09/19/2023

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the support we received to host our 2023 History Classic Tournament last Friday at Nemadji Golf Course! We had a wonderful day and a great event thanks to the generous support of all our sponsors, golfers and volunteers - we look forward to hosting again in 2024 on September 6th so mark your calendars!

09/12/2023

Thanks to PBS North for coming by the DCHS Pride Collection and Exhibit Opening Reception. The exhibit is open for the rest of September, we hope you'll get a chance to visit soon:

The marginalized histories of Wisconsin's q***r population is honored in Superior, WI's Douglas County Historical Society, which features local history and a...

09/04/2023

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!! We have a few team openings for our 2023 Golf Tournament so sign up now - we can almost guarantee it won't be as hot as today on Sept 15, 2023!!

Details: 4-person teams will complete an 18-hole Scramble at Nemadji in Superior, optional Hole-In-One contest, dinner, raffles, auctions, PRIZES, and more FUN!!! Don't miss out and sign up today (full details attached) - we have only 5 openings remaining so please send an email to [email protected] if interested in reserving your team's spot today! DEADLINE to REGISTER is 9/9/23.

Don't golf? No problem, you are welcome to join for dinner and FUN around 4:30 pm. Cost is $15 for dinner only. Send email to [email protected] if interested in reserving your place today. Deadline to sign up is 9/9/23.