On August 21, 1984, the legendary Chief Wawatam retired after more than seven decades of faithful service across the icy waters of the Straits of Mackinac. But her story begins long before that—on August 26, 1911, when she was launched into the waters of Toledo, Ohio, by the Toledo Shipbuilding Company. By October 18, she was hard at work for the Mackinac Transportation Company. A joint venture created by three railroads: the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway, the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, and the Michigan Central Railroad. These rail lines relied heavily on the Chief to ferry train cars across the Straits. The task became particularly daunting in the brutal winters of Northern Michigan.
Designed by the legendary Great Lakes marine architect Frank E. Kirby, the Chief Wawatam was no ordinary boat. Measuring 338 feet long and 62 feet wide and powered by three massive coal-fired triple-expansion steam engines. Two propellers at the stern provided propulsion, but the third—mounted at the bow—was the game-changer. This forward propeller not only helped maneuver the vessel but also enabled her to take on winter ice. By drawing water from beneath the ice, she created a vacuum that allowed the ice to collapse under its own weight—effectively “breaking” the ice without needing brute force.
Year Round Service
She served year-round, facing blizzards and gales, tirelessly moving freight and train cars across the frozen divide. The Chief Wawatam wasn’t just a ferry—she was a lifeline for Northern Michigan’s economy and transportation network. And she was the last of her kind: the final hand-fired, coal-burning boat in commercial service on the Great Lakes.
The Chief was named in honor of an 18th-century Ojibwa leader, Chief Wawatam. The Chief famously saved British trader Alexander Henry during the 1763 uprising at Fort Michilimackinac. Today, a wooden statue of the chief, carved by artist Jerry Prior from a century-old white pine, stands proudly in Mackinaw City’s Wawatam Park. It is a lasting tribute to both the man and the vessel that bore his name.
Bridge Opening
After the opening of the Mackinac Bridge in 1957, demand for train ferry service plummeted. The once-essential Chief was slowly edged into obsolescence, and in 1984, she was finally mothballed, ending an era of ice-breaking grit and Great Lakes heritage.
Though her engines have long since gone cold, the Chief Wawatam remains a towering figure in the maritime history of the Great Lakes—remembered for her strength, resilience, and the vital role she played in connecting Michigan through even the harshest winters.
