Rouse Simmons Maritime Trails Marker
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Rouse Simmons Maritime Trails Marker
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Rouse Simmons Maritime Trails Marker
 
Details
Attraction
Location
Body of Water: Lake Michigan
Trail Name: Mid Lake Michigan
Nearest Address: Neshotah Beach 2111 Pierce St
Nearest City: Two Rivers
County: Manitowoc
Zip Code: 54241
Latitude: N 44°08.99800'
Longitude: W -087°33.40300'
Attraction
Features
Open to public?: Yes
Mooring buoy?: No
Mooring buoy in place?: No
Snorkelable?: No
Dive guide?: No
Trails sign?: No
National Register?: No
Attraction
Description
About 12 miles northeast of Two Rivers, 165 feet below the waves, lies one of the most celebrated shipwrecks in Lake Michigan. The three-masted Rouse Simmons spent her career like many lumber schooners of her day, hauling forest products from isolated towns along Lake Michigan to the hungry markets of Milwaukee and Chicago. She disappeared late one November day with a special cargo in her hold, and ever since she has been fondly remembered as the “Christmas Tree Ship”. On November 22, 1912, the Rouse Simmons departed Thompson, Michigan with her annual load of Christmas pines and firs. Two captains (each one-eighth owners) shared command of the vessel, Herman Scheunemann and Charles Nelson. Scheunemann intended to sell the trees in Chicago, from the ship’s deck directly to his customers, as he had done from several vessels for 20 years. On her second day out, the Rouse Simmons encountered a northwest gale. She was spotted flying a distress flag about 3 P.M., as she passed the Kewaunee Life-Saving Station. The station telephoned the life saving crew in Two Rivers, who set out to help the struggling vessel. However, by the time the crew rounded Two Rivers Point (now Rawley Point), the Rouse Simmons was nowhere to be seen. For many years afterwards, Christmas trees from the “ghost ship” washed up along the beach. She is still celebrated today in songs, stories, and plays, her myth and mystery growing with the passing years.
 
Map
 
Nearby
Attractions (8)
Continental Maritime Trails Marker
Point Beach State Forest
Rawley Point Lighthouse
Rogers Street Fishing Village
Rouse Simmons Maritime Trails Marker
S.C. Baldwin Buoy
Two Rivers North Pierhead Light
Vernon Maritime Trails Marker
Shipwrecks (33)
Aetna (1878)
Alaska (1869)
Arrow (1852)
Bessie Boalt (1868)
Boss (1881)
Boss (1882)
Continental (1882)
Crane & Front Loader Debris Field
Dart (1867)
Grace Patterson (1880)
View 23 more
Shipwrecks (33)
Aetna (1878)
Alaska (1869)
Arrow (1852)
Bessie Boalt (1868)
Boss (1881)
Boss (1882)
Continental (1882)
Crane & Front Loader Debris Field
Dart (1867)
Grace Patterson (1880)
Humko (1946)
James Navagh (1857)
John Irwin (1845)
LaSalle (1874)
Lookout (1855)
Magellan (1873)
Major Anderson (1861)
Major Barnum (1849)
Maria (1878)
Mary Ann Scott (1871)
Milton (1867)
Minnesota (1847)
Nellie Church (1867)
Nevada (1882)
Oleander (1848)
Oliver Culver (1855)
Planet (1855)
Rochester (1831)
Rouse Simmons (1868)
S.C. Baldwin (1871)
Speed (1866)
Tubal Cain (1866)
Unnamed Scow
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