S.S. Keewatin to Open to Kingston Public

The S.S. Keewatin will open to the public in Kingston, Ontario at the Great Lakes Museum with a launch party on Saturday, May 25, 2024. The museum has opened ticket sales ahead of the event for hosted tours of the ship’s passenger areas and engine room, as well as access to the museum, which features an exhibit showcasing artifacts and historical displays of the passenger steamer.

“We are delighted to finally unveil this beautiful and historic ship to visitors and the community and to celebrate the hard work of our volunteers, staff, and board members,” says Chris West, board chair for the Great Lakes Museum, reports Kingstonist.com.

“We’re excited to embark on the next phase of this important vessel’s life in Kingston and integrate its story into our collection covering the last 200 years of Great Lakes history.”

Built in Scotland in 1907, the Keewatin was formerly owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway, and is one of only three similar passenger steamships built between 1900 and 1920. It is the last remaining Edwardian-area passenger steamship built in the world, reports Kingstonist.com.

Donated to the Great Lakes Museum in 2023 by Skyline Investments, the ship underwent partial restoration work at Heddle Shipyards (now Ontario Shipyards), with further restoration to continue in the years to come.

“It is an astonishingly long and detailed process. We are overwhelmed by the generous time commitment from Kingston and Port McNicoll volunteers. We are two teams working on one mission: to preserve and celebrate the Keewatin,” adds Kelly Pope-Wiley, board vice-chair for the Great Lakes Museum, reports Kingstonist.com.

GREAT LAKES MUSEUM