On March 21, 1953, the now historic S.S. Badger set off on its maiden voyage on Lake Michigan. The S.S. Badger and its sister ships are the last — and the largest — coal-fired, steam engine car ferries built in the United States.
Originally manufactured to transport rail cars across the lake, the Badger was considered a train ferry, not a car ferry. As time went on, transporting trains across Lake Michigan diminished and the ship was converted into a car ferry.
The S.S. Badger has transported millions of passengers since her rebirth in 1992.
In 2016, the Department of Interior officially designated the Badger as a National Historic Landmark. It is the only historic landmark that moves.
The 410-foot ship can accommodate 600 passengers and 180 vehicles, including RVs, motorcycles, motor coaches, and commercial trucks during her sailing season.
