Marquette, MI – Just this past week you may have been passing through the lower harbor and noticed some masts peeking through the trees…or perhaps even a giant yellow rubber duck! Well, that was the Tall Ships in the Festival of the Sail here for a visit! Docked for the full weekend (and a little extra) we were graced with three stunning ships and one duck here in Marquette.
The Pride of Baltimore II, The Brig Niagara, and Nao Trinidad were our amazing guests of honor. They docked and the crew set them up for numerous visitors over the three days of the festival. A handful of food vendors were present in Mattson Park as well to entertain and feed the crowds of fans. Some attendees were lucky enough to sail on this ships and others had purchased tickets to tour the vessels while docked.
Each of these ships were different and have different stories to tell. If you made it to the harbor you may have learned a bit about each ship from their information or even some of their incredible crew! The Pride of Baltimore II is a replica of the original Pride of Baltimore. A square top-sail schooner that resides in Maryland and the original had seen its fair share of American Historic action! Learn more about the Pride of Baltimore II here. The Brig Niagara calls our very own Great Lakes home and spends its time sailing the waters of Lake Erie. Another authentic reproduction this ship shares common ground with the Pride of Baltimore II in that both have history from the war of 1812. Learn more about the Brig Niagara here. Lastly, the Nao Trinidad hailed from Spain and is a Square Rigged Foreign Private Vessel. The Nao Trinidad sails the waters of the world making appearances across the globe. Learn more about the Nao Trinidad here.
It seemed as though the real star of the show was the giant inflated rubber duck as crowds flocked to see it. Maybe it was because it is a giant beacon in the middle of the park or it could be because it is THE WORLD’S LARGEST RUBBER DUCK! Nonetheless, the people of Marquette seemed to enjoy the ships and duck, and are grateful they came for a visit to the Upper Peninsula. We wish them all smooth sailing as they continue their journeys.
Learn more about ALL of the tall ships here.
