"For us to be able to tell that story, and have an actual boat here, that is huge for us," expressed Bruce Lynn, Executive Director of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society.
This past Saturday was a special day at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Whitefish Point.
Museum officials welcomed a piece of Great Lakes history to its grounds.
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) 36381 lifeboat, and the restored lifeboat house it will be displayed in, were dedicated in a ceremony at the popular historical site.
A little bit of background on the lifeboat.
The USCG 36371 lifeboat was the original lifeboat housed at Whitefish Point starting in the 1930's. Once that vessel was taken out of service, it was nowhere to be found. Lynn said many lifeboats back then were burnt when taken out of service.
Around a decade ago, the Historical Society learned of a lifeboat very similar to the 36371 in Maryland. It was in very bad shape. It was the 36381 lifeboat. A boat only 10 digits off from the original.
Historical society officials were excited about the new find.
USCG 36381 was transported from Maryland to Mertaugh Boat Works in Hessel where it took several years to restore.
After its restoration, in Oct. 2023, the boat was transported one last time to its home at Whitefish Point. It was then meticulously moved into a restored 1923 lifeboat house.
On Saturday, a special dedication of the 36381 and the lifeboat house took place.
While USCG 36381 is not the official lifeboat that was stationed at Whitefish Point, having this similar boat on site is still a gem to the museum.
"For us to find this one, with help from the friends of the organization, to be able to get it back here, get it restored, and now have it on display, it's a part of Whitefish Point that most people don't know about," Lynn explained.
The museum is open until Oct. 31 and is about 15 minutes north of Paradise.
