Last Lecture in Museum’s Fall Series Explores the Mystery of “The Christmas Tree Ship”

The National Museum of the Great Lakes invites the public to the final presentation in its free 2024 Fall Lecture Series, presented by Larry and Karen Bettcher. Join Tamara Thomsen for “Rouse Simmons: The Christmas Tree Ship” on Wednesday, November 13 at 7 pm. Thomsen is a Maritime Archaeologist with the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Maritime Preservation and Archaeology program and a member of the Women Diver’s Hall of Fame.

Offered as a hybrid event, attendees can attend in person at the museum or online via Zoom. Registration is required. Get more details at nmgl.org/events.

Thomsen will dive into the fascinating and tragic story of the Rouse Simmons, a three-masted schooner that set out from Thompson, Michigan, on November 22, 1912, loaded with Christmas trees destined for Chicago. Known as “The Christmas Tree Ship,” the Rouse Simmons and its crew disappeared without a trace until 1971, when the wreck was discovered 170 feet below the water’s surface. Thomsen will share findings from the Wisconsin Historical Society’s archaeological survey, which led to the ship’s nomination to the National Register of Historic Places, and reveal details of the team’s ongoing research into the ship’s final voyage.

“It’s the perfect time for this lecture topic, as it leads up to our annual holiday tradition, the Christmas Tree Ship,” said Ellen Kennedy, the museum’s Director of Operations. “Our community has the opportunity to learn the history behind the event’s namesake just as we prepare for our biggest giveback of the year.”

The lecture is free, though registration is required. For more information or to register, visit nmgl.org/events or call the museum at (419) 214-5000.