The Schooner Madeline’s presence in the small harbor at Michigan’s Fayette State Park recreates the historic times when wooden schooners were the cargo ships that made the smelting of iron ore in Fayette possible and provided critical support for other small frontier ports on the upper Great Lakes.
The Schooner Madeline will visit Fayette State Park August 16, 17 and 18, 2024 to host the public on board. Madeline’s crew/interpreters will share the history of schooners on the Great Lakes and tell the story of Fayette’s maritime history, the roles schooners played in early iron-making history and the 19th century commerce of the upper Great Lakes. Madeline’s visit is co-sponsored by the Friends of Fayette Historic Townsite and the Michigan History Center.
For further information contact the Maritime Heritage Alliance at info@ ma r it imeher it agealliance.org or call 231-9462647; Fayette Historic State Park’s website at Recreation Search or call 906-644-2503; Fayette Historic State Park or the visit the Friends of Fayette Historic Townsite on their FB page.
The schooner Madeline is a reconstruction of a mid-19th century wooden schooner. She was built by volunteers of the Maritime Heritage Alliance of Traverse City, Michigan. Since she was launched in 1990, Madeline’s volunteer tall ship crew has operated, maintained and sailed her on all five Great Lakes. In 1992 the State Legislature proclaimed the Schooner Madeline as Michigan’s Official Tall Ship. Thousands of visitors have come onboard during her port visits to learn about Great Lakes maritime history and to explore the deck of an authentic wooden Great Lakes schooner.
Madeline’s visit Fayette on Michigan’s Garden Peninsula is co-sponsored by the Friends of Fayette Historical Townsite and the Michigan History Center. The Fayette Historic Townsite is one of the Michigan’s History Center’s 12 museums and historic sites. Fayette was once a bustling industrial community that manufactured charcoal pig iron between 1867 and 1891. The historic buildings industrial and village structures are set along a unique protected snail-shell harbor under the white limestone cliffs characteristic of the Garden Peninsula. The historic complex adjoins Fayette Historic State Park’s campgrounds, a visitor center, boating access and hiking trails. The mission of the Friends of Fayette Historical Townsite is to further the interpretation of Fayette Historic Townsite through signs, interpretive displays and to raise awareness of the Townsite through advertising and special events like the Schooner Madeline’s visit to Fayette.
