"Owen Sound to Sault Ste. Marie stopping at Killarney, Little Current, Gore Bay, Meldrum Bay, Cockburn Island, Thessalon, Hilton Beach, and Richards Landing..."

That may sound like a railway station announcement, but in fact it was the route of the steamship NORGOMA. The NORGOMA was the last of a long line of passenger and freight vessels which were the "life line" of the North Channel communities along the "Turkey Trail." The early settlers at Sault Ste. Marie and along the north shore of Lake Huron were dependent on the regular visits of the NORGOMA and her predecessors. Paddle, sail, steam, and diesel power all served their day. The NORGOMA is dedicated to preserving the rich marine heritage responsible for the exploration, survival, and development of Ontario's north.

Built in 1950 in Collingwood, the NORGOMA was the last passenger vessel constructed with overnight sleeping cabins on the Great Lakes. She is 188 feet long, 36 feet wide, and draws 12 feet of water. The NORGOMA contained sleeping accomodations for 100 people, a dining room that seated 50 people, and galley that could produce 144 meals three times a day. Her cabins, lounges, tuck shop, washrooms, and showers all reflect the style of a bygone era. From 1950 to 1963, the vessel made 5-day round trips weekly from Owen Sound to Sault Ste. Marie. The trip included passage through the Sault locks into Whitefish Bay of Lake Superior. Visit the NORGOMA and experience the North Channel cruise, 1950's style.
In 1963, after the Trans Canada Highway was completed, the NORGOMA was operated as a car ferry between Tobermory and South Baymouth. Her steam engine was replaced with an 800 horsepower diesel which gave her a service speed of 13.5 knots. IN 1975, the NORGOMA was brought to Sault Ste. Marie and converted to a museum ship.
Located in ROBERTA BONDAR PARK, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, the vessel is accessible from Foster Drive which runs along the city's downtown waterfront.

OPEN HOURS

June to Labour Day: 10 AM to 8 PM
Labour Day to mid-October: seasonal hours
Open seven days a week.

ADMISSION (2001 Season)

Family: $10.00 CDN / $7.00 US
Adults: $4.00 CDN / $3.00 US
Seniors: $3.00 CDN / $2.00 US
Students: $3.00 CDN / $2.00 US
Under 12: $2.00 CDN / $1.00 US

The vessel is owned and operated by the volunteers of the St. Mary's River Marine Centre, a charitable non-profit corporation focused on the maintenance and restoration of the ship. You can become a NORGOMA shipmate and support the vessel, help with maintenance and restoration, build theme displays, and attract visitors to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario's museum ship NORGOMA. The City of Sault Ste Marie has given permission to maintain the ship at its present location, to explore funding to restore the ship to a "1950 experience", and to establish an on-shore Marine Museum adjacent to the Vessel. For more information contact:

St Mary's River Marine Centre
Station Mall P.O. Box 23099
Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 6W6
Telephone: (705) 256-SHIP

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Last updated 20. July 2001 by sheila

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