Do You Know About Michigan’s ‘Christmas Tree Ship’?

The story of Santa Claus is one that everyone knows from a very young age. A fat, bearded man who lives at the North Pole and, thanks to his workshop full of elves, spends the year making and loading toys into his sleigh before flying around the globe with his trusty reindeer in one night delivering toys (and holiday cheer!) to one and all.

This time of year, Santa is busy and needs some help delivering holiday cheer. Thankfully, the U.S. Coast Guard, for the 26th year in a row, has helped keep a tradition alive from over 100 years ago that brings Christmas trees from the Upper Peninsula to over 1,000 families in Chicago who can't afford one of their own.

A Brief History of the 'Christmas Tree Ship'

Per the National Museum of the Great Lakes, a schooner called the Rouse Simmons, colloquially known as the "Christmas Tree Ship", was known for its annual trip of bringing Christmas trees from the Upper Peninsula to those in need in Chicago. The ship was captained by Herman E. Schuenemann, nicknamed "Captain Santa".

READ MORE: New Shipwrecks Found in Lake Michigan Reveal Great Lakes History

Sadly, the ship encountered rough weather on its 1912 voyage and sank to the bottom of Lake Michigan, taking all the crew members and trees with it. Oddly, Herman's older brother also died transporting Christmas trees 14 years earlier.

The New 'Christmas Tree Ship' USCG Cutter Mackinaw

The new Christmas ship is the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, which departs from Cheboygan and takes the same fated route the Rouse Simmons historically followed. The USCG Cutter Mackinaw set sail with 1,200 Christmas trees aboard and will arrive in Chicago's Navy Pier on Friday, December 5th.

The trees are then delivered to families throughout Chicago by community organizations. It's a pretty cool tradition that always brings holiday cheer from the Mitten State to the Windy City, continuing Captain Santa's mission.