S. S. Keewatin & Red Dock

Location: Lake Kalamazoo, Blue Star Highway, Douglas

The Red Dock was an important Douglas fruit shipping and storage point that avoided the necessity of ships moving through the Douglas swing bridge. It was, as well, easily accessible for the many fruit farmers “coming to market” from the south of Douglas. However, over time the problem of the silting of Lake Kalamazoo made large ship movement to this dock difficult. The dock exists as a (seasonal) outdoor cafe/bar.

This 300-foot passenger and freight steamship was built in the famous Fairfield shipyard of Glasgow, Scotland in 1907. A prime example of the bygone Great Lakes steamship era, the Keewatin featured grand accommodations including staterooms, lounges, and a walnut-paneled dining room. Mr. R. J. Peterson brought the vessel to Saugatuck in 1967, after it had been retired from the Canadian Pacific Railway Company in 1965. The ship arrived with all the dinnerware, glasses, silverware, and linens still aboard. Since that time the S. S. Keewatin has been used as a maritime museum. She is the last of the classic Great Lakes passenger steamships still afloat. In June 2012 the ship was sold and moved to Port McNicoll, Ontario, its former home port.