Scheduled Programs

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11 February, 2012 - Neptune Dive Club, Green Bay, Wisconsin - Haunted Lakes, Great Lakes Maritime Ghost Stories.

09 March, 2012 - Lorenzo Cultural Center, Clinton Township, Michigan - Before Michigan was Michigan - Lake Superior From the American Revolution to Statehood, 11:00 am. This program is part of a series of lectures on the theme of Becoming Michigan: From Revolution to Statehood.

24 April, 2012 - Briggs Public Library Foundation, St. Johns Michigan. "Honors and Author's Night," I will be speaking at this remarkable event about Great Lakes lighthouses.

16-23 June, 11-18 and 18-25 August 2012 - Discovering a North American Treasure: Voyage to the Great Lakes.  

This is a very special trip offered on Travel Dynamics International’s 257-foot YORKTOWN. With a beam of 43-feet, draft of 8 feet and 138-berths, she is the perfect vessel for relaxed and convivial exploration of America’s great coastal waterways.

Although TDI offers this particular routing seven times, I will be the lecturer on three of them, 16-23 June, 11-18 and 18-25 August 2012.

The TDI website describes the trips thusly Nearly fifteen thousand years ago, the last of the great glaciers retreated, leaving us with the legacy of the Great Lakes. The lakes are unique, for although they are called lakes, they are in reality vast inland seas that comprise one-fifth of the world’s fresh surface water. First used as a means of transport by Algonquin and Iroquois tribes, the lakes later became a thriving commercial hub and a heavily traveled waterway with the arrival of European settlers. More than fifty years ago, the Great Lakes were the busiest waterway in the world and North America’s treasured summer destination. On this unique itinerary, which encompasses American and Canadian ports, travelers will enjoy the delightful town of Saugatuck, nestled along Lake Michigan’s great sand dunes; the splendid landscape of the Door Peninsula; and Mackinac Island’s bygone Victorian charms. Experience the majestic grandeur of the shores of Lake Superior at Whitefish Point and experience Native American culture on Manitoulin Island. A highlight of our voyage will be transiting the Soo Locks that connect Lake Huron and Lake Superior. You don’t have to travel far away from home to discover natural and man-made treasures. Join us as we sail the vast, sweet waters of the Great Lakes. They will certainly be very special trips!

The specific itinerary includes (reverse from Detroit):

Day 1 • USA | CHICAGO, Illinois, United States | EMBARK

Day 2 • HOLLAND/SAUGATUCK, Michigan

Day 3 • SHEBOYGAN, Wisconsin

Day 4 • MACKINAC ISLAND, Michigan, United States

Day 5 • LAKE SUPERIOR | WHITEFISH POINT | SOO LOCKS

Day 6 • LAKE HURON | LITTLE CURRENT, Manitoulin Island

Day 7 • GODERICH | BAYFIELD | GODERICH, Ontario, Canada

Day 8 • DETROIT, Michigan, United States | DISEMBARK | FLY HOME

Check http://www.traveldynamicsinternational.com/cruises.asp for specific information about all aspects of the trips.  

 

24 June, 2012 - 29 June, 2012 - Great Lakes Maritime Road Scholar (aka Elder Hostel), Northern Michigan University, Marquette. We at NMU have offered this elder hostel for the last eight years or so with great success. Typical activities include classroom instruction on Great Lakes maritime history and field visits to lighthouses, maritime museums, working iron ore mines and shipwrecks (via a glass bottom boat) among other events. This is the nearest thing you will find to a true Lake Superior Elder Hostel.  One of the 2006 graduates described it thusly:

 

WE HAD SUCH A WONDERFUL TIME AND  WE LEARNED SO  MUCH ABOUT THE GREAT LAKES THAT I WANTED TO SHARE THIS OPPORTUNITY WITH OTHERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN OUR “FRESH WATER SEAS” AND THE  SHIPS THAT SAIL ON THEM.

 

THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE THE ELDERHOSTEL MARITIME

HISTORY COURSE IS TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE CLASSES AND FIELD TRIPS WE PARTICIPATED IN WHILE  ATTENDING THIS GREAT LAKES SUMMER CAMP.

 

THE CLASSES WE ATTENDED WERE ON SUBJECTS SUCH AS:  GREAT LAKES MARITIME OVERVIEW, GREAT LAKES SHIPWRECKS, THE SINKING OF THE “EDMUND FITZGERALD, U.S. LIFE-SAVING SERVICE ON THE GREAT LAKES, MARITIME GHOST STORIES,  CRIME ON THE GREAT LAKES, AND IRON ORE MINING.

 

FIELD TRIPS WERE TAKEN ON COMFORTABLE  TOUR BUSES  TO MARQUETTE MARITIME MUSEUM, HARBOR LIGHT HOUSE, AND IRON ORE DOCKS.  OUTSIDE OF MARQUETTE WE TOOK TOURS OF THE  BIG BAY LIGHT HOUSE, PICTURED ROCKS, SAND POINT LIFE-SAVING STATION BOAT HOUSE, SHIPWRECKS IN LAKE SUPERIOR ON A GLASS BOTTOM BOAT,  IRON ORE MINE AND AN IRON ORE PROCESSING PLANT.  WE EVEN WENT INTO A IRON-ORE MINE SHAFT WHERE THE MINERS WALKED BEFORE THEY DESCENDED INTO THE DARK MINE TO BRING UP THE VALUABLE IRON-ORE.

 

THE SIX DAY, VERY AFFORDABLE EVENT, STARTED ON SUNDAY NIGHT AND ENDED FRIDAY MORNING.   ALL PARTICIPANTS STAY IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY DORMITORY ROOMS WITH PRIVATE BATH.  MEALS WERE SERVED  IN THE UNIVERSITY CENTER FOOD COURT. CLASSES WERE GIVEN IN A COMFORTABLE  AIR CONDITIONED  ROOM. ALL OF THE CAMPUS ACTIVITIES WERE WITHIN EASY WALKING DISTANCE.

ON FIELD TRIPS WE ATE LUNCH AT RESTAURANTS IN THUNDER BAY, MUNISING AND WE EVEN HAD A PASTY LUNCH IN ISHPEMING.  THE PROGRAM WAS SO WELL PLANNED THAT WE HAD FREE TIME TO ENJOY THE CITY OF MARQUETTE WITH ALL OF ITS HISTORY, BEAUTIFUL  LAKE SUPERIOR SHOREFRONT AND FINE RESTAURANTS.  

 

IF YOU HAVE A LOVE OF THE GREAT LAKES AND THE LONG SHIPS SAILING ON THEM YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF TO SATISFY YOUR PASSION BY ATTENDING THIS REWARDING WEEK IN MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN.

 

2-3 November 2012, Gales of November, Lake Superior Marine Museum, Duluth, Minnesota - program and time TBA.  

 

           

Past Cruise Photos:

Departing Chicago

Pulling away from Chicago is aways spectacular.

Tight Fit

A smaller laker squeezes past the Grande Mariner in the Manistte River.

Sunset Over Lake Michigan

It has too be sunset. No one is ever awake for sunrise!

Upclose and Personal

Participants get to pass very close to a modern freighter, in this case a 1,000-footer in the St. Marys River.

Mackinac Bridge

Passing under the five mile long Mackinac Bridge is a highlight for everyone.

Double-click to add photos

Mr. Ed and Friend

Everything at Mackinac Island runs at "hoof" speed.

Sturgeon Bay

The Palmer Johnson Company continues to build mega yachts of the highest quality.

Steel Beach

Everyone enjoys a picnic, especially on the upper deck (aka "steel beach") as we lock through the Soo.

Shamrock Bar

The famous Shamrock Bar is one of Beaver Island's cultural icons and a must visit for some of our "crew."

Surprise

You never know what we will see. While moored in Holland, Michigan this small amphibian "motored" past.

 

Past Programs

I have presented programs to many groups and organizations. The following are but a few and in no particular order:

                     St. Clair County Library

              Eagan Maritime Institute

              Dossin Great Lakes Museum

              Wisconsin Maritime Museum

                    Friends of Plum and Pilot Island

                    Great Lakes Maritime Teacher Workshop

             Travel Dynamics International

              Marine Museum of Sandusky

              Michigan Ports City Collaborative

              Science Museum of Minnesota

                    Ghost Ships Festival

                    American Canadian Caribbean Lines

                    Michigan Ports Collaborative Summit

                    Chicago Ghost Conference

                    Sonderegger Symposium, Northern Michigan University

             US Coast Guard, Civil Engineer Unit, Ninth District

              Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society (Minneapolis)

              Door County Maritime Museum

                    Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum

                    Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association

                    Marquette General Hospital Volunteers

               Macomb County County Community College Cultural Center

                           East Tawas Friends of the Library

                           Seaway Trail, Inc.

                           Alger County Historical Society                  

                    Otsego County Library                   

                          Sterling Heights Public Library

                    Bayliss Public Library

                         Great Lakes Maritime Institute                         

                         National Maritime Conferences (6th and 7th)

                    Wisconsin Maritime Museum

                    Our World Underwater

                    Underwater Canada

                    Gales of November - Duluth

                    Gales of November - Marquette

                    Erie Maritime Museum

                    Beneath the Sea 

                    Keeper of the Light Festival

                    Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival

                    Ghost Ships Festival

                           U.S. Life-Saving Service Heritage Association

                    Michigan Technological University

                    Manistee Public Library

                    L'Anse Schools

                    Midland Historical Society

                    Marquette County Historical Society

                    Upper Peninsula Emergency Medical Conference

                    Michigan Association of Math Teachers Conference

                    Flushing Historical Society

                    Shipwrecks, Niagara Ontario Divers

                    Fremont Public Library

                    Michigan Technological University

                    Great Lakes Aquarium

                    Michigan Lighthouse Conference

                    Michigan Iron Industry Museum

                    Brimley Schools

                    Bruce Township School

                    Flushing Historical Society

                    Soo Township School

                    Dow Memorial Library

                    American Canadian Caribbean Line

                    Lake Superior Marine Museum

                    Central Michigan University Elder Hostel programs 

                    Northern Michigan University Elder Hostel programs

                    Association for Great Lakes Maritime History

                    Madison Heights Historical Commission

                    Neptune's Nimrods SCUBA Diving Club

                    Au Sable/Oscoda Historical Society

                    Peter White Public Library 

                    Pentwater Public Library

                    Upper Peninsula History Conference

                    Marquette Maritime Museum

                                                                                                                                                                                             May 27, 2006 - Marquette Michigan. The U.S. Postal Service issued a new series of stamps - Wonders of America: Land of Superlatives, Forty natural and man-made wonders of the United States are depicted on this stamp panel. These remarkable places, plants, animals, and structures were selected from every region of the country. 

USPS - 2006 Commemorative Stamps  The official "First Day" release of the Lake Superior stamp was in Marquette and I was the keynote speaker. The stamp is certainly a fitting honor for the GREATEST of the Great Lakes!