SS Badger through the Sturgeon Bay Bridges Panorama

The SS Badger moves steadily through the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, its black hull and white superstructure reflecting in the rippling waters as it passes beneath the raised spans of the Michigan Street and Oregon Street Bridges. The ship’s presence here is a rare sight—she visits Sturgeon Bay roughly every five years, making her way from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, to undergo maintenance at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding.

The Badger, a National Historic Landmark, is the last operational coal-fired steamship in the United States and the only remaining car ferry of her kind on the Great Lakes. Launched from Sturgeon Bay’s own Bay Shipbuilding in 1952, she was originally designed to transport railcars across Lake Michigan for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. As rail use declined, the Badger transitioned to carrying passenger vehicles, cargo, and travelers between Ludington, Michigan, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin, as part of US Highway 10—one of the few ferry routes in the country that remains an official highway designation.

During this passage, the Badger is being towed—a more cost-effective option than restarting her massive coal-fired engines after seasonal shutdown. Her last visit to Bay Ship was for routine maintenance and a fresh paint job, ensuring she remains in peak condition for the busy summer season ahead.

Once, ferries like the Badger were a common sight on the Great Lakes. Ships such as the Spartan, the Badger’s sister ship, once plied the same waters but now sits dormant in Ludington, awaiting an uncertain fate. Other car ferries, like the SS Milwaukee Clipper and the Arthur K. Atkinson, have long since retired, leaving the Badger as the last of a historic era of Great Lakes transportation.

The waterfront in this scene tells its own story. In the background, the Bridgeport Waterfront Resort stands near the canal’s edge, offering an unobstructed view of the maritime activity that defines Sturgeon Bay. Further along, the familiar façade of Stone Harbor Resort reflects in the calm water, a gathering place for those who appreciate the ever-changing theater of ships passing through the heart of the city. Harbor Club Marina can be seen nearly empty, minus a few boats, while the working waterfront next to the Sturgeon Bay Maritime Museum is home to the Sarter Marine tugs, always ready to assist the next vessel in need.

This image is a carefully constructed panorama, seamlessly stitching together hundreds of individual images to create a sweeping, high-resolution view of this rare moment. The Badger’s stately movement, framed by the bridges and the city’s waterfront, captures a fleeting intersection of history and modern industry, preserving a scene that speaks to the enduring legacy 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.