Historic Tug Back At Museum For 2024 Season

The tugboat John Purves, a former military vessel renamed in honor of the Roen Steamship Co. general manager, is guided back to the DCMM by the tugs David Schanock and Chas. Asher. Photo courtesy of DCMM.

One of the treasures of the Door County Maritime Museum returned Monday to its space behind the museum in Sturgeon Bay.

After various repairs on the authentically restored, 105-year-old tugboat, the John Purves, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding employees opened the floodgates in the shipyard drydock Monday morning to allow tugs from Roen Salvage to guide the John Purves back to its home mooring.

The survivor of two World Wars spent nearly five months in dry dock at the Sturgeon Bay yard.

The museum posted videos of the return trip at facebook.com/dcmaritime.