The Final Voyage of the Chief Wawatam

End of an Era:

On this day in history, August 21, 1984, a storied chapter in Michigan’s maritime legacy came to a close. The Chief Wawatam, the last hand-fired, coal-burning vessel on the Great Lakes, sailed across the Straits of Mackinac one final time. This marked the end of railroad car ferry service between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. For over seven decades, the Chief defied the elements and carved paths through frozen water. She delivered passengers, cars, and railcars across one of the most critical and treacherous waterways in the Midwest.

Launched August 26, 1911, the 338-foot Chief Wawatam was a workhorse, dependable and powerful. She wasn’t just a ferry; she was a lifeline during Michigan’s harsh winters. When other ships were stuck fast in ice, it was often the Chief that came to the rescue, delivering food, fuel, and support. Operated by the Mackinac Transportation Company (MTC), the ferry served a crucial role in connecting the Detroit, Mackinac & Marquette, Grand Rapids & Indiana, and Michigan Central Railroads. These connections made cross-state and cross-lake rail transport possible in a time before bridges and highways ruled the day.

Michigan State Railways

The broader system of Michigan State Car Ferries (also known as Michigan State Railways) had already been hard at work since the 1890s. Vessels like the City of Milwaukee, City of Grand Rapids, and City of Midland 41 transported railcars across Lake Michigan, linking port cities in Michigan and Wisconsin. These ferry routes played a vital role in moving people and goods between industrial centers like Detroit and Chicago, bypassing long and inefficient overland routes.

But the tides of change came swiftly. In 1957, the mighty Mackinac Bridge opened to the public. Cars and passengers could now drive the span in minutes rather than wait nearly an hour for a ferry crossing. Passenger ferries quickly became obsolete—but the Chief Wawatam held on. She continued to serve rail and freight needs long after her sister ships were retired. Even after the MTC was granted permission to cease operations in 1976, the State of Michigan stepped in to subsidize the ferry, recognizing her historical and logistical importance.

Last Run

Eventually, time caught up with the Chief. On August 21, 1984, after decades of faithful service, the ferry made her final run. Two years later, the Soo Line Railroad abandoned the unused tracks to the St. Ignace docks. The rails leading to Mackinaw City were pulled up. In 1988, the vessel was sold to a Canadian firm and cut down to a deck barge. They stripped away the last visible signs of her coal-fired legacy.

Today, the Chief Wawatam lives on in memory and maritime lore. Her name is a nod to a legendary Ojibwe chief, but her story is one of grit, steam, and perseverance.

Marisa Fancy along with her husband and four children dreamt of moving “Up North”. They had vacationed for years in northern Michigan and in 1995 they finally made the move.

The family was always out exploring, but with 4 kids there was some limitations on what they could do. Marisa discovered the amazing network of trails in Northern Michigan after Steve died and she would walk for miles. The trails provided her with peace, comfort and solitude at a difficult time in her life. Later, after meeting Guy who would become her second husband, she learned to golf and found another passion she could enjoy in beautiful Northern Michigan.

Marisa has been the family historian, writer, and poet for as long as she can remember. She has always loved to write and has now found a creative outlet for it other than family. You can read her articles in Adventures in Northern Michigan, Northern Michigan History and Golf Up North.