Harvest Moon

The John Purves stands as a powerful symbol of maritime endurance, a vessel that has weathered wars, economic shifts, and the passage of time. Behind it, the harvest moon rises in luminous perfection, much like this tug once stood as a steadfast force on the waters. Now preserved at the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay, the John Purves serves as a gateway into a past where tugs like this one were the backbone of the Great Lakes shipping industry.

The story of the John Purves begins in 1919 when it was constructed by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in Beaumont, Texas. Originally christened the Ludington, this steel-hulled tug was built to support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. For years, it served as a vital component of the nation's inland and coastal waterway projects, ensuring safe passage for larger vessels and maintaining navigational channels. Its rugged design and powerful build made it a reliable workhorse, and it remained in government service until 1946.

After World War II, the tug transitioned into civilian life, moving through a series of owners and changing names along the way. In the postwar shipping boom, it became the T. L. Durocher and was put to work assisting freighters and barges through treacherous waters. By 1956, it was renamed John Purves in honor of the man who led the Roen Steamship Company in Sturgeon Bay, which had acquired the vessel. Under Roen ownership, the John Purves became a vital part of the Great Lakes shipping network, navigating narrow harbors, ice-choked waters, and stormy crossings with unwavering reliability.

For decades, the tug was an integral part of commercial maritime operations, assisting massive freighters carrying iron ore, coal, and grain through the Great Lakes system. It played a crucial role in maneuvering ships through harbors and alongside docks, ensuring the safe transfer of goods that fueled industries across the Midwest. But by the 1970s, larger, more powerful tugs had begun to dominate the industry, and the John Purves found itself approaching obsolescence. It was retired from active duty in the late 1970s and eventually fell into a period of disrepair.

Salvation for the John Purves came in the early 2000s when it was donated to the Door County Maritime Museum. Over the course of several years, volunteers painstakingly restored the vessel to its former glory, ensuring that its history would not be lost. Now, as a fully restored floating museum piece, visitors can walk its decks, explore the engine room, and stand in the wheelhouse, where countless captains once steered through fog, ice, and open water.

The harvest moon rising behind the John Purves mirrors the tug’s own enduring presence—a celestial constant above a vessel that has defied the erosion of time. The moon, once relied upon by farmers and sailors alike, now casts its glow over a ship that has witnessed generations of maritime evolution. Preserved in the heart of Sturgeon Bay, the John Purves remains a living testament to the power, history, and resilience of Great Lakes shipping.

All prints are of museum quality and printed in The USA. Canvas Prints are wrapped around a hardwood frame to prevent long-term wrapping and utilize a 0.75" thick wrap. Metal Prints are glossy, vibrant, and of course are ready to hang.  These prints make a statement and bring Door County home to your wall.