A Tour of Sturgeon Bay

Come on a tour of Sturgeon Bay aboard the Door County Cruises' tour boat, Fred A. Busse. (45 Photos)

On June 17, 2002 I took a very leisurely and enjoyable trip around Sturgeon Bay aboard the Fred A. Busse. If you ever find yourself in Sturgeon Bay, be sure to take the approximately 2 hour tour. It will be well worth your time and money. The trip starts from the dock at the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay at the foot of the Michigan street Bridge. After backing into the bay, we pass first through the stately Michigan Street Bridge, which was built in the 1930's. After passing through the bridge, we pass the Bay Shipbuilding complex. We then proceed out to Sherwood Point where we see the 1882-built Sherwood Point Lighthouse which marks the point of separation between the bays of Green Bay and Sturgeon Bay.Here we turn around and head back down the bay toward Lake Michigan. After passing Bay Ship and through the Michigan Street Bridge again, we come up on the beautiful Great Lakes freighter, Edward L. Ryerson, which has (sadly) been in lay-up since 1998. Just past the Ryerson is the Palmer Johnson-built 15-million dollar yacht, Anson Bell (the Edward L. Ryerson cost 8-million dollars new in 1960). We then head for the newer Sturgeon Bay by-pass bridge. It was at this point on our tour that we lost the transmission on one of the engines of the tour boat. Continuing on (using the other engine), we pass under the bridge and out the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal to the Coast Guard Station on Lake Michigan. Here we see the other 1882-built lighthouse nicknamed "Big Red". Since it was a calm day, and we had just the one engine, we got a little added bonus trip partly out into Lake Michigan to turn around for our run back to the dock (usually the tour boat turns around inside the end of the canal). The captain, who also acted as tour guide, kept us well informed (and entertained). All-in-all it was a thoroughly entertaining and informational trip!

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Sturgeon Bay Tour

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Our Tour Boat, Fred A. Busse

Photos:

Photo #1 - Our tour boat Fred A. Busse
Photo #2 - The stately Michigan Street Bridge
Photo #3 - Selvick tugs, Escort II and Jacqueline Nicole, at base near Museum
Photo #4 - Selvick tug, Susan L, at her base
Photo #5 - As we back away from our dock and out into the bay, the Edward L. Ryerson presents a nice stern profile

Photo #6 - The U.S. Coast Guard ship, Mobile Bay, at her base near the Door County Maritime Museum
Photo #7 - We prepare to pass through the Michigan Street Bridge
Photo #8 - The Michigan Street Bridge closes behind us
Photo #9 - The 1898-built tug, John M. Selvick, is still active around the Great Lakes
Photo #10 - The tug-barge, Susan Hannah/Southdown Conquest, is at Bay Shipbuilding for repairs

Photo #11 - The tug Susan Hannah shows her heritage - "Lady Elda - Port of New Orleans"
Photo #12 - It is unusual to see the 1004-ft.-long James R. Barker still in winter lay-up in the middle of June - shown here at Bay Shipbuilding
Photo #13 - The Sturgeon Bay fire department checking its equipment
Photo #14 - Sherwood Point Lighthouse was built in 1882, the same year the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal was finished
Photo #15 - Sherwood Point marks the entrance to Sturgeon Bay from the bay of Green Bay

Photo #16 - After we turn around, we approach Bay Shipbuilding. This huge overhead gantry crane, which is capable of lifting 200 tons, straddles the only graving dock on the Great Lakes which can handle the huge 1000-ft.-long ships.
Photo #17 - The 105-ft.-wide bow of the James R. Barker is an impressive sight
Photo #18 - The U.S. Coast Guard ship, Biscayne Bay, is also at Bay Shipbuilding
Photo #19 - Stern view of the Biscayne Bay
Photo #20 - The floating dry-dock at Bay Shipbuilding is used for small-to-medium-sized ships.

Photo #21 - We approach the Southdown Conquest
Photo #22 - A stern view of the Susan Hannah/Southdown Conquest
Photo #23 - The Michigan Street Bridge opens on our return. Our tour is at about the halfway point.
Photo #24 - We approach the Edward L. Ryerson, which has sadly been laid-up in Sturgeon Bay since 1998 - you can see more about her on my Edward L. Ryerson page.
Photo #25 - The stern of the Edward L. Ryerson

Photo #26 - The stately bow of the Edward L. Ryerson
Photo #27 - The 15-million-dollar yacht, Anson Bell, was built by Palmer Johnson, and is about ready for delivery.
Photo #28 - A bows-on look at the Edward L. Ryerson
Photo #29 - A seaweed removal vessel chops off the weeds near the bay bottom and, using a conveyor belt, deposits the cut-off weeds on the vessel
Photo #30 - We approach the Bay View Bridge that was built as part of the Sturgeon Bay highway by-pass

Photo #31 - We head for the east end of the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, and Lake Michigan (it was about here that we lost the transmission on one engine)
Photo #32 - A bald eagle checks out the proceedings.
Photo #33 - The picturesque Sturgeon Bay Coast Guard Station at the entrance to Lake Michigan
Photo #34 - A wide view of the Coast Guard Station
Photo #35 - Another view of the Coast Guard Station

Photo #36 - A cute reminder on a Coast Guard out-building along the canal
Photo #37 - A view of the Coast Guard Station from the east end of the canal
Photo #38 - The 1882-built lighthouse, Big Red, on the Lake Michigan side of Sturgeon Bay guards the entrance to the canal
Photo #39 - Because we lost the use of one engine on this tour, the captain decides to turn around in a placid Lake Michigan. This view is not usually included on the tour.
Photo #40 - One more look at the Coast Guard Station from out in Lake Michigan

Photo #41 - This is the view a ship's captain sees when entering Sturgeon Bay from Lake Michigan.
Photo #42 - The 1960-built Edward L. Ryerson and the 2002-built Anson Bell. Which cost more? - The Ryerson cost 8-million dollars, while the Anson Bell was 7-million dollars MORE, or $15-million!
Photo #43 - One more view of my favorite Great Lakes ship
Photo #44 - The stern of a great ship
Photo #45 - The tour is over, and the ex-Chicago Fire Boat, Fred A. Busse, will get the needed repairs. Thus ends a wonderful tour of Sturgeon Bay.

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