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The Steamship William G. Mather Museum
Address: 305 Old Erieside Ave. Pricing: $6 for Adults, $5 for Seniors, $4 for kids 5-18. Phone: (216) 574-6262 Hours: Open May to October. See article, as hours vary. How To Get There:
From the east, take I-90 West to Route 2 West/Exit 174B. Take the East 9th Street exit. Turn right onto East 9th Street and then left onto Erieside Ave. Follow past the Great Lakes Science Center and turn right before the Browns Stadium.
The entrance to the Port of Cleveland lot (nearest parking) will be in front of you and slightly to the left.
Parking: Parking garage on site. Fee based.
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The Steamship William G. Mather Museum: a perfectly preserved piece of Cleveland history
Return to the glory days of steamships with a visit to an actual 618-foot-long steamship, the retired William G. Mather. The Steamship William G. Mather Museum is located on a permanently docked cargo ship
-- one of the most powerful and cutting-edge cargo boats of its day!
To supply the Allied forces with much-needed steel just prior to the U.S. entry into World War II, the Mather set a record making its way through the ice-choked Upper Great Lakes to Duluth, Minn. That earned the cargo ship a spot in Life Magazine''s April 28, 1941, issue. The Mather, listed in the International Register of Historic Ships, was retired in 1980 after 55 years of service, and the William G. Mather opened as northeast Ohio's only floating maritime museum in 1991.
Open annually to visitors from May until October, the William G. Mather is a retired straight deck bulk carrier with a 14,000-ton capacity built in 1925 for the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company.
Tours, both guided and independent, are available. Visitors can tour the engine rooms, sleeping quarters, cargo bays and captain’s deck, which features one of the first maritime radar systems ever used. The tour emphasizes the history of commerce in the Great Lakes and tells tales of what life was like as a shipmate aboard the Mather.
The museum is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in May, September and October from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In June, July and August, the museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Children and adults alike will appreciate tours on the Mather. In July, the Tall Ships Festival is held in its shipyard, featuring traditional style sailing ships and family friendly activities and learning opportunities.
The main cargo deck and informational area now houses the ticket booth, museum store and displays; however, it once held the ship's cargo of coal, iron ore, grain or stone. Courtesy, the Steamship William G. Mather Museum.
Destroyed by a fire in 1984, the guest dining room has been faithfully reconstructed to reflect its 1940 splendor. Courtesy, the Steamship William G. Mather Museum.
The captain's deck overlooks Lake Erie. Courtesy, the Steamship William G. Mather Museum.
The ship's upper lounge was once reserved for honored guests of Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company. Today anyone enjoy the lovely view. Courtesy, the Steamship William G. Mather Museum.
