S.S. William G. Mather

A floating museum, the William G. Mather used to be an ore freighter. Serving as the flagship of the Cleveland-Cliffs Cargo Fleet from its construction date in 1925 until 1954, it was called "the ship that built Cleveland." It was refitted in the mid-50s with a diesel engine and bow-thrusters; the first ship of its kind with such technology.

In October of 2006 the Mather merged with the Great Lakes Science Center. Plans are underway to renovate the cargo holds of the ship into spaces for exhibits on Lake Erie and Cleveland's shipping history. Ground will be broken in the spring of 2008 to build an all-weather connector between the Science Center and the Mather.

wgmather.nhlink.net/