Manitowoc in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Manitowoc and the Car Ferries / S.S. Badger

Manitowoc and the Car Ferries Marker <i>(north side)</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith L, September 16, 2008

1. Manitowoc and the Car Ferries Marker (north side)

Inscription.

(Side A)
Manitowoc and the Car Ferries. In the first five decades of the 20th century, Lake Michigan railroad car ferry service aided national defense and the regional economy by providing a key transportation alternative to the railroad bottle neck in Chicago. At the Port of Manitowoc, where car ferries were the major cargo carriers, Manitowoc shipbuilders constructed eleven car ferries and maintained, repaired, and remodeled many more. Five of these ships were built for the Pere Marquette Line which later evolved into the Lake Michigan Carferry Service.

(Side B)
S.S. Badger. Built by the Christy Corporation of Sturgeon Bay in 1952, the S.S. Badger is the last of fourteen Ludington, Michigan-based car ferries still crossing Lake Michigan. Commissioned by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, the S.S. Badger, named for the University of Wisconsin athletic teams, provided passenger and freight service between Manitowoc and Ludington. After railroad car ferry service declined, the Lake Michigan Carferry Service purchased and renovated the S.S. Badger in 1992. Today, the ferry transports truck freight, automobiles and passengers.

Erected 1998 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 369.)

Topics and series. This historical

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marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Railroads & Streetcars • Roads & Vehicles • Sports • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1952.

Location. 44° 5.4′ N, 87° 39.12′ W. Marker is in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, in Manitowoc County. Marker can be reached from Lakeview Drive (U.S. 10), on the left when traveling east. Marker is at the Lake Michigan Carferry Dock, by the southeast corner of the ticket office building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 700 South Lakeview Drive, Manitowoc WI 54220, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fred Schultz Residence (approx. ¼ mile away); Ralph Clark Huston Jr. (approx. ¼ mile away); U.S.S. Peto (SS 265) (approx. ¼ mile away); U.S.S. Pogy (SS 266) (approx. ¼ mile away); U.S.S. Pompon (SS 267) (approx. ¼ mile away); U.S.S. Puffer (SS 268) (approx. ¼ mile away);

<i>S.S. Badger</i> Marker <i>(south side)</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith L, September 16, 2008

2. S.S. Badger Marker (south side)

U.S.S. Rasher (SS 269) (approx. ¼ mile away); U.S.S. Raton (SS 270) (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manitowoc.

Also see . . .
1. The Carferries of the Great Lakes. (Submitted on August 28, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. "The Golden Link" C&O Carferry Promotional Film (1950s). (Submitted on October 3, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Additional keywords. Manitowoc and the Car Ferries / S.S. Badger

Manitowoc and the Car Ferries / <i>S.S. Badger</i> Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith L, September 16, 2008

3. Manitowoc and the Car Ferries / S.S. Badger Marker

Lake Michigan Carferry Dock image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith L, September 16, 2008

4. Lake Michigan Carferry Dock

Eastbound U.S. Highway 10

<i>S.S. Badger</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith L, September 16, 2008

5. S.S. Badger

<i>S.S. Badger</i> Builder's Plate image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 23, 2016

6. S.S. Badger Builder's Plate

<i>S.S. Badger</i> Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 23, 2016

7. S.S. Badger Bridge

Builder's Plate is just below the center of the Bridge

<i>S.S. Badger</i> Main Deck Railroad Tracks image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 23, 2016

8. S.S. Badger Main Deck Railroad Tracks

At stern of ship, showing how cars would be switched to be four wide on main deck

S.S. <i>Badger</i> Entering Ludington Harbor On Evening Eastbound Trip image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr.

9. S.S. Badger Entering Ludington Harbor On Evening Eastbound Trip

<i>S.S. Badger</i> Life Buoy image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 23, 2016

10. S.S. Badger Life Buoy

Credits. This page was last revised on October 19, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2008, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 3,844 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 27, 2008, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 6, 7, 8. submitted on August 28, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 9. submitted on October 2, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 10. submitted on August 28, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.