As the Dossin Great Lakes Museum enters its seventh decade as Detroit’s maritime heritage center, it continues to expand accessibility to visitors from around the world. In the exhibit, explore some of the museum's outdoor artifacts!
J.T Wing Gallery (1949/1956) by Detroit Historical SocietyDetroit Historical Society
Detroit's Maritime Heritage
For over 60 years, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum has been THE place to learn about Detroit’s rich maritime heritage. However, it didn’t always look like this. The first museum was actually in a ship!
In 1949 the Detroit Historical Commission opened the Museum of Great Lakes History aboard the schooner J.T. Wing. The J.T. Wing was moored at the same site that houses the Dossin Great Lakes Museum today.
Foredeck of the J.T Wing (1945/1956) by Detroit Historical SocietyDetroit Historical Society
A Museum on a Boat
Where once thousands of schooners worked the Great Lakes, the J.T. Wing was the very last. She served as a museum for seven years, welcoming more than 400,000 visitors before age and rot finally ended her career. The artifacts were taken ashore and the J.T. Wing was burned on her mooring in the Detroit River.
Exterior Museum (1963/1963) by Detroit Historical SocietyDetroit Historical Society
Breaking Ground
The loss of the J.T. Wing created a void. A generous donation from the Dossin family was matched by the city, and a new building was constructed and dedicated on July 24, 1960.
Dossin Great Lakes Museum Exterior (2020/2020) by Julienne LindsayDetroit Historical Society
Outdoor Enhancements
In 2013 the Dossin Great Lakes Museum received an extensive interior renovation after the Detroit Historical Society resumed management of the facility. In 2020 a new exterior landscape was completed. The grounds were reconfigured to allow greater outdoor enjoyment and make space for additional historical interpretation. As this site enters is seventh decade as Detroit’s maritime heritage center, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum continues to expand its accessibility to visitors from around the world.
War of 1812 Cannons
In 2020, the Detroit Historical Society completed the first phase in an outdoor enhancement campaign to enhance the grounds and reposition the outdoor artifacts at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. Cannons from the War of 1812, once used as bollards on the shore of the Detroit River, were repositioned to the front of the museum.
Battle of Lake Erie Cannon (2020/2020) by Julienne LindsayDetroit Historical Society
War of 1812 Cannons
In front of the Dossin, you’ll find two naval cannons to the west of the Dossin’s maritime flags.
These naval cannons were used aboard ships in the pivotal Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. The war was fought between a very young United States and Great Britain, one of the world’s mightiest militaries and sovereign over Lower and Upper Canada. Reasons for the war included international trade and diplomacy, tariffs, and the sanctity of American citizenship.
Cannonball (1812/1812) by Detroit Historical SocietyDetroit Historical Society
The War Continues
In front of the Dossin, you’ll find two naval cannons to the west of the Dossin’s maritime flags.
These naval cannons were used aboard ships in the pivotal Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. The war was fought between a very young United States and Great Britain, one of the world’s mightiest militaries and sovereign over Lower and Upper Canada. Reasons for the war included international trade and diplomacy, tariffs, and the sanctity of American citizenship.
Cannon in Front of City Hall (1930/1930) by Detroit Historical SocietyDetroit Historical Society
While it seemed that the U.S. was over-matched, Americans had two advantages. They outnumbered European Canadians tenfold, and the mighty British Army was preoccupied by Napoleon’s empire and ambition on the other side of the Atlantic.
On the Great Lakes, the British launched ships at Fort Amherstburg (today Malden) on the lower Detroit River, while the Americans were based out of Erie, Pennsylvania.
Don't Give Up the Ship Flag (1960/1960) by Detroit Historical SocietyDetroit Historical Society
The two fleets met on western Lake Erie on September 10, 1813. Through a series of calms and close-action cannon fire, the American fleet emerged victorious. American Master Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry sent the famous message to his commander, “We have met the enemy and they are ours.” It was the first time that an entire British fleet had been captured, and the victory secured control of the Great Lakes region for the United States.
Perry's Victory Cannon (2020/2020) by Julienne LindsayDetroit Historical Society
Cannons Become Artifacts
Who won the war? It depends on who you ask. At the time it was a source of pride for both sides. Historians generally agree it was a draw, with most issues going unresolved.
After the Battle of Lake Erie, the fleet was decommissioned. In 1863 these two cannons were discovered at a Detroit River wharf, upended as bollards for tying ships. They were recovered and placed in front of Detroit’s old City Hall in 1874. When that building was demolished in 1961, the cannons were brought to the new Dossin Great Lakes Museum.
The longer barrel to the east is a 24-pound gun, deadly at distances up to a quarter mile. The stout gun to the west is a 32-pound carronade, most effective at close range. The numbers refer to the weight of cannon ball that each fired. The barrel of the long gun weighs about 2.75 tons.
Battle of Lake Erie Cannon (2020/2020) by Julienne LindsayDetroit Historical Society
After the Battle of Lake Erie, the fleet was decommissioned. In 1863 these two cannons were discovered at a Detroit River wharf, upended as bollards for tying ships. They were recovered and placed in front of Detroit’s old City Hall in 1874. When that building was demolished in 1961, the cannons were brought to the new Dossin Great Lakes Museum.
The longer barrel to the east is a 24-pound gun, deadly at distances up to a quarter mile. The stout gun to the west is a 32-pound carronade, most effective at close range. The numbers refer to the weight of cannon ball that each fired. The barrel of the long gun weighs about 2.75 tons.
Outdoor Enhancement Press Conference (2020/2020) by Julienne LindsayDetroit Historical Society
Flagpole
This flagpole was donated to the
Dossin Great Lakes Museum by the Detroit News in 1960, when the museum
opened. It was restored in 2020 as part of the Outdoor Enhancement Campaign. But, of course, there is more to the story. The newspaper became a supporter because its editor, George Stark, had been instrumental in getting the museum built. He was president of the Detroit Historical Society, then negotiated creation of the city’s Historical Commission and became its first president – a post he held for 20 years. Stark was a serious heritage booster. Note the unique placement of the flags on this type of pole.
The arrangement of yardarm (horizontal crosspiece) and gaff spar (diagonal pole) is referred to as a Navy or Yacht Club rig, with the American flag hoisted on the gaff, as it would have been during the Great Age of Sail two centuries ago. Because this puts the American flag below the masthead pennant, some people question this rig.
Standard flag protocol demands that no flag fly higher than our national ensign. However, naval flag traditions are different than standard protocols. Our flagpole reflects the gaff and yardarm spars carried on historic sailing ships. With this arrangement, other flags are carried off the yardarms or mastheads, but the national ensign is always carried on the stern gaff.
At the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, the Canadian national flag is flown in honor of our neighbor across the river, and the Michigan State flag honors our Great Lakes state. Traditionally, the top hoist often flies an admiral, company fleet or yacht club flag, called a burgee. Our mast features the city flag, honoring our position as the City of Detroit’s maritime museum.
SS Yantic Anchor
This iron anchor was originally used on the USS Yantic, and is typical of those used during the second half of the nineteenth century. Constructed for the United States Navy during the American Civil War, the Yantic was a steam-powered, propeller-driven wood-hulled gunboat, with auxiliary sail rigging. The vessel participated in blockade and landing operations along the Atlantic coast. After 1865, the warship served the Navy at stations around the world and recorded two circumnavigations.
Front View of Marine Deck Officer Hat from the SS William Clay Ford (1973/1973) by Detroit Historical SocietyDetroit Historical Society
USS Yantic Anchor
In 1898, the ship was loaned to the State of Michigan as a training platform for its naval militia, based in Detroit. The vessel helped train a notable group of young volunteers that served with distinction aboard the auxiliary cruiser USS Yosemite in Cuba during the Spanish-American War.
In 1917, the Yantic was recommissioned by the Navy, and served as a training ship at the Naval Training Center on Lake Michigan. Returning to militia duty after the war, the ship served as a naval ambassador, visiting ports around the lakes. In 1929 age caught up with the vessel, and she sank in her slip in the Detroit River adjacent to Gabriel Richard Park.
Anchor in front of the William Clay Ford Pilot House (2020/2020) by Julienne LindsayDetroit Historical Society
The Yantic Anchor Moves
The anchor was donated to the museum by the Koenig Coal and Supply Co. in 1960. In 2019, it was repositioned as part of the Outdoor Enhancements at the Dossin.
William Clay Ford Pilot House
Added to the Dossin Great Lakes Museum upon decommissioning in 1987.
Color Photograph of the SS William Clay Ford Pilot House (1986/1986) by Detroit Historical SocietyDetroit Historical Society
SS William Clay Ford Pilot House
The SS William Clay Ford was one of the workhorses of America’s industrial boom following World War II. Built in 1953 at the Great Lakes Engineering Works in River Rouge, the WCF provided years of reliable service transporting iron ore and coal from the upper Great Lakes to the River Rouge Steel Plant, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company.
Architectural Drawing for the SS William Clay Ford Pilot House exhibit (1991/1991) by Detroit Historical SocietyDetroit Historical Society
A Vessel in Action
Launched as a 647-foot straight-decked vessel, the Ford was lengthened to 767 feet in 1979. It was named for the son of Ford Motor company founder Henry Ford. This pilot house was mounted on the bow (front) of the ship, with a separate engine and crew structure at the stern (back) – a very common profile for about a century.
Inside the Pilot House (2021/2021) by Detroit Historical SocietyDetroit Historical Society
The ship is most recognized for its valor the night of November 10, 1975. Anchored safely in Whitefish Bay during an angry storm, Captain Don Erickson, his officers, and crew sailed into Lake Superior to search for the missing SS Edmund Fitzgerald. Fortunately, the WCF survived the storm that claimed the “Mighty Fitz.”
Pilot House is Installed at the Dossin
As freighter technology advanced, the William Clay Ford became increasing less profitable. In 1987, as the ship was being scrapped, its pilot house was removed and donated to the Dossin Great Lakes Museum by E. Steven Robinson.
Interior Entrance (2021/2021) by Detroit Historical SocietyDetroit Historical Society
Inside of the William Clay Ford House at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum.
SS Edmund Fitzgerald Anchor
Repositioned as part of the 2020 Outdoor Enhancement Campaign, the anchor from the infamous SS Edmund Fitzgerald Freighter has become the centerpiece of the Museum's Lost Mariners Memorial--a space dedicated to honor all those who lost their lives on the Great Lakes.
Photo of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald Anchor being raised from the Detroit River (1992/1992) by Detroit Historical SocietyDetroit Historical Society
SS Edmund Fitzgerald
One evening in 1974, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald anchored at the Detroit River’s Belle Isle Anchorage, 800 feet off Riopelle Street, east of the Renaissance Center. It was late in the season, and many of the buoys guiding the captain down the river had been pulled for the winter. As evening fog set in, the skipper decided to stop for the night, dropping anchor on the designated anchorage just downstream from Belle Isle.
Color photograph of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald Anchor (1992/1992) by Detroit Historical SocietyDetroit Historical Society
A Tragedy on the Great Lakes
The next morning, as the crew worked to raise the starboard bow anchor, a chain link separated. The 12,290 pound anchor remained on the bottom of the Detroit River. The following season, the Fitzgerald was lost with all hands in a November storm on Lake Superior. The story captivated the continent.
SS Edmund Fitzgerald Anchor DGLM (2020/2020) by Julienne LindsayDetroit Historical Society
Lives Lost
Once the queen of the ore boats, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald has the unfortunate distinction of being the most recent major shipwreck on the Great Lakes. On November 10, 1975 the ship succumbed to a severe storm on Lake Superior, taking with her twenty nine crewmen. In the century that preceded its sinking, thousands of ships were lost. Since then, none as big as the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Becoming An Artifact
After the Fitzgerald’s loss, an effort was mounted to recover what had become a significant artifact. Community support, reflected on the plaques nearby, supplied the money, equipment, and knowledge to successfully raise the anchor. Divers discovered its location on May 20, 1992 with the help of a proton magnetometer (metal locating device).
Moved the Dossin Great Lakes Museum
After much planning, the anchor was removed from the water on July 20 and brought to the Dossin Great Lakes Museum the following day. The live television broadcast drew incredible viewership, and thousands came to see the anchor in the following weeks.
Lost Mariners Memorial at the Dossin (2020/2020) by Julienne LindsayDetroit Historical Society
Lost Mariners Memorial
This anchor serves as a memorial to the crew of the vessel known as “the Mighty Fitz.” It also stands as a tribute to the tens of thousands of mariners who died serving their ships, as well as the families and crew mates they left behind.
In 2019, as part of the Outdoor Enhancement Campaign, the S.S. Fitzgerald Anchor was re- positioned on the museum's eastern side as part of the new Lost Mariners Memorial.
Miss Pepsi Pavillion
The beautiful boat ensconced in the pavilion is the hydroplane Miss Pepsi. During her short career, she was one of the fastest boats – and certainly the prettiest boat – on the racing circuit. She was also one of the very first vehicles in any sport to openly advertise a product and sponsor.
Miss Pepsi being installed at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum (1963/1963) by Detroit Historical SocietyDetroit Historical Society
Miss Pepsi’s History
The Dossin Brothers – Russell, Walter and Roy– operated Dossin Food Products in Detroit, which became successful as bottlers and distributors of Pepsi-Cola and Nehi sodas. As members of the Detroit Yacht Club in the 1940s, the brothers understood the popularity of power boat racing, and saw an opportunity to promote their business.
Ignoring official opinion against corporate sponsorship, the Dossins named a series of racers after their most popular product. The family later sold their distributorship, and helped underwrite the cost of the museum that bears their name. Today, third and fourth generation family members continue to actively support the facility and the Detroit Historical Society.
Miss Pepsi Pavilion (2020/2020) by Julienne LindsayDetroit Historical Society
Uniquely Detroit By Design
Designed by Detroit naval architect John L. Hacker and built by renowned boatwright Lester Staudacher, Miss Pepsi was launched in 1950. Two 1,710 cubic inch Allison engines designed for use in P-58 fighter planes produced 3,500 horsepower.
Miss Pepsi’s shape and beautifully varnished deck earned her the nickname, “the Mahogany Cigar.” Her hull was built with two “steps” on the bottom that helped break the water’s surface tension – the last of this breed, as modern “three-point” craft rapidly gained dominance.
Donor Plaque (2020/2020) by Julienne LindsayDetroit Historical Society
Restored to Glory
In 1963, Miss Pepsi was restored by its builder and placed on permanent display in its own pavilion at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. It has since received a second restoration under the direction of Peggy and Doug Breck.
Inside Miss Pepsi exhibit (2021/2021) by Detroit Historical SocietyDetroit Historical Society
A Champion On The River
During Miss Pepsi’s career, driver Chuck Thompson earned numerous trophies for the Dossin Brothers. In 1950, 1951 and 1952 Miss Pepsi was the American Power Boat Association’s National High Points Champion. Retired after the 1952 season, the craft reappeared briefly in 1955.
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