S.S. Keewatin heading home to Port McNicoll

The S.S. Keewatin is coming home to Canada, but it won’t be coming to Thunder Bay.

The last of the Edwardian-era Great Lakes steamships instead will be berthed in Port McNicoll, Ont., its original home.

The ship, launched on July 6, 1907 and retired in 1966, ferried passengers between the southern Ontario community and Thunder Bay. Over the years several efforts have been made to bring the ship to Thunder Bay for use as a tourist attraction.

The S.S. Keewatin has been docked in Saugatuck, Mich. since 1967, and was purchased by Skyline Development. It will be donated to the R.J. and Diane Peterson Great Lakes and S.S. Keewatin Foundation, which will operate and maintain the vessel as a maritime museum.

"We are thrilled to return the world's last Edwardian passenger steamship to the people of Tay Township and Canada," said Skyline chairman and president Gil Blutrich in a release.

"As a passionate maritime history enthusiast, I became interested in the Keewatin's remarkable history, its preservation and importance to this beautiful part of the country decades ago. I believe the Keewatin will deliver both tourism dollars and wonderful memories to the community for years to come."