Christened in 1925, the grand lady of the Lakes was a behemoth craft combining cavernous cargo holds capable of holding 13,300 tons of iron ore with elegant oak-paneled guest dining rooms and cozy state rooms. The 75-year-old Mather has been painstakingly restored over the years; the vast scale is impressive, from the parade ground-sized deck to the house-sized anchor. Touring the ship give...
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The Scene From the ore loaders that stand silent sentry over the Cuyahoga River to the steel plants that served the world, Cleveland has a proud history in the steel industry. For more than 60 years, this steamship plied Lake Erie, supplying coal and ore to Cleveland's steelyards. The 618-foot ship is now a floating museum docked at North Coast Harbor. The...
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Posted by Contributor
on April 21, 2009, (Edited April 18, 2004)
The Mather is docked downtown and we thought we'd take the children down to go inside.
Once inside you find that some of the stairs are not very wide but it's quite fascinating to see how and where they slept, and moved on the ship. You can also go up and 'steer' the ship if you'd like.
Doesn't take long to walk thru it and it's something your children will remember.
Posted by Citysearch User
on April 21, 2009, (Edited August 19, 2005)
Built in 1925 for the Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company, the Steamship William G Mather was in use until 1980. In 1987 it was donated to the Great Lakes Historical Society. This is a great way for everyone to see first hand how the men lived on the ship...everything from the sleeping quarters to the galley. At different time during the year they offer special events. Prices are reasonable and...
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Posted by Citysearch User
on April 21, 2009, (Edited July 27, 2005)
The William G Mather ship is a great place for anyone who loves boats and submarines. You can tour almost the entire ship and learn some pretty interesting facts in the process. Some of the stairs are tight squeezes, and it may be hard to bring really little kids aboard. But older kids or adult 'big kids' who might enjoy 'steering' the boat or seeing where the sailors sleep would have a...
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Posted by Citysearch User
on April 21, 2009, (Edited July 26, 2005)