The Michigan Maritime Museum lecture series kicks off with renowned
maritime historian and author Fred Stonehouse on Wednesday, September 25 th at 6:30 PM.
Stonehouse’s presentation, Forgotten Heroes, The U.S. Life-Saving Service on the Great Lakes,
will focus on the period from 1874 until 1915 after which the U.S. Life-Saving Service merged
with the Revenue Cutter Service and became the U.S. Coast Guard. The men of this remarkable
organization displayed incredible courage and bravery in rescuing over 55,000 people from
potential death on the Great Lakes. Despite personal danger or difficulty, the life-savers
invariably accomplished the rescue. The presentation is their story of courage in the face on
nearly insurmountable odds. Their unofficial motto was, “Regulations say we have to go out,
they say nothing about coming back.” Learn the inspiring tales of these rescues and heroes not to
be forgotten.


“We look forward to having Fred Stonehouse present at the Museum on such a compelling
topic,” said Director of Education & Programs Ashley Deming. “This lecture is a perfect
complement to the Coast Guard and Life-Saving Service history we share through our exhibits
and is especially appropriate as we host the US Life-Saving Service Heritage Association
Conference the same week.”


Fred Stonehouse has authored over thirty books on maritime history, many of them focusing on
the Great Lakes. Wreck Ashore, the U.S. Life-Saving Service on the Great Lakes, won a national
publishing award and is the predominant work on the subject. Stonehouse teaches maritime
history at Northern Michigan University and is an active consultant for numerous maritime
oriented projects and programs.


This lecture series is made possible thanks to the Nielsen-Wells Grant Fund and Mike and Susan
Smith. Tickets are free for Museum members and $10 for non-members. For more information
about the Museum’s events, please visit: https://www.michiganmaritimemuseum.org/events/.


Event Details
Lecture Series- Forgotten Heroes, The U.S. Life-Saving Service on the Great Lakes
Date: Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Time: 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Location: 260 Dyckman Avenue, South Haven, MI 49090
Cost: Free to members/$10 non-members