There seems to be a bit more interest in the S.S.Badger than I had expected, so I thought I would post a few more pictures of my 7/16/2007 trip westbound across the lake. I missed out on any opportunity to take an ocean liner trip across the Atlantic, so I figured that a trip across Lake Michigan was about the closest I would ever come to a real ride on a steamship. I was not disappointed as the S.S.Badger is a beautiful ship and this is a wonderful 4-hour trip!

Actually, I am mostly experimenting with the posting of pictures here. It appears that the file server does not like long file names, so I am giving the .JPG files shorter names.

Captions for each picture are below the picture.


S.S.Spartan is the sister ship to the S.S.Badger. She is retired and sits quietly at her berth in Ludington MI.


This sign is at the terminal area in Ludington.


The S.S.Badger loads and unloads from the back (stern) end of the ship, so they back in to the docking piers. Here the passengers are walking onto the S.S.Badger at Ludington.


This is S.S.Badger's builders plate, displayed on the bow superstructure.


This is her "Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark" plaque which is displayed in the history room on the ship.


This view is on the starboard (right) side of the deck, looking toward the stern.


This is lifeboat #2 on the port (left) side of the deck.


Looking up at the wheelhouse from the bow showing some of the antennas; the S.S.Badger appears to be well equipped with the latest communications gear.


We have docked at Manitowoc WI and the vehicles, including this large truck, are being driven off of S.S.Badger.


This picture shows the vehicle deck of the S.S.Badger. Even though rail cars are no longer carried, the rails are still in place and very evident on this deck.


This sign is in the terminal area at Manitowoc WI.


Another view of the S.S.Badger from the terminal area at Manitowoc WI.



The S.S.Badger is re-fueled with coal by truck at Manitowoc WI. The truck backs down into the vehicle deck and dumps the coal into hoppers below this deck.


I have started my hike along the sea wall out to the harbor entrance. This picture shows the port side of the S.S.Badger. She is at her berth at Manitowoc and the vehicle gate is raised above the stern as vehicles continue to load before departure time.


I am now at the end of the sea wall. Folks were fishing here. S.S.Badger is so big that I can't fit her into the picture as she steams out of the Manitowoc harbor.


And off she goes out into the open lake enroute to Ludington MI.


This telephoto view shows the S.S.Badger as she has cleared the Manitowoc harbor.

Did I enjoy this trip on the S.S.Badger across Lake Michigan? YOU BET I DID! If you ever get a chance to make this trip you will not be disappointed.