“The Christmas Tree Ship” - The Rouse Simmon
Join Rochelle Pennington as she shares the legend of The Christmas Tree Ship – a true story of faith, hope and love. Capt. Herman Schuenemann, affectionately known as "Captain Santa" for his yearly voyages from Michigan's Upper Peninsula to Chicago with a load of freshly cut Christmas trees during the late 1800s and early 1900s, went down with his ship in 1912. The three masted schooner, the Rouse Simmons, sunk in a storm off the coast of Two Rivers, Wis. Today, the Christmas Tree Ship is remembered as one of the most "storied shipwrecks" of the Great Lakes, and the legend has held its place in history for nearly a century already.
Registration is required for this free program. Call 847-391-5399 or email contact@desplaineshistory.org
The Des Plaines History Center collects, preserves, and interprets the history of Des Plaines and its people and provides access to those resources through exhibits, educational programs, and research facilities.