Maritime Museum Begins 2011 Tug Tours

The Door County Maritime Museum has resumed tours of the Tug John Purves in Sturgeon Bay. Tours will be conducted on weekends in April before a daily schedule begins in May.

The immaculately restored 149-foot vessel has proven to be an extremely popular attraction since opening to the public in August of 2008 following a remarkable five-year restoration project. Many of the volunteers who completed the restoration now are members of the docent team that conducts the 45-minute tours.

Built in 1919 and christened the Butterfield, the tug has a colorful past that even included World War II duty in the Aleutian Islands. The tug made its way to Sturgeon Bay in 1956 when purchased by Roen Steamship Company. It was eventually sold, but the tug now carries the Roen colors and has been outfitted to appear much as it did while operated by Roen in the ‘50s and ‘60s. Captain John Roen, company owner, renamed the tug in honor of his long-time employee and general manager.

The cost of the tour is included in the $12.50 admission fee to the museum or is also offered separately for $6.

The Door County Maritime Museum is located at 120 N. Madison Avenue. For more information call 920.743.5958 or visit http://www.dcmm.org.