Badger season! Ship is designated National Historic Landmark.

Bob Manglitz speaks about the Badger.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

LUDINGTON — The S.S. Badger set sail for the first time this season this morning following a ceremony designating the ship as a National Historic Landmark. The brief ceremony included speeches from Dr. Rick Plummer, executive director of the Mason County Historical Society; Dr. Bill Anderson, former director of Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries and local historian and cultural activist; representatives of the offices of Senator Debbie Stabenow and Congressman Bill Huizenga, the Michigan State Housing Authority and the U.S. Department of the Interior; along with Bob Manglitz, co-owner of Lake Michigan Carferry Service.

The boilers being maintained in the engine room.

Members of the public, including students from Lakeview Elementary lined the channel and breakwaters to watch the ship. The ship will sail to Manitowoc, Wisconsin once a day until June 4 and then will sail twice a day from June 5 to September 11 and then once daily again until October 16.

See the video of the Badger leaving port here. 

See the video of the dedication ceremony here.