Tug John Purves

Tug John Purves Built in 1919 as an ocean-going tug, the John Purves has many exciting tales to share. The tug began her storied career as a floating U.S.

Built in 1919 as the Butterfield, the John Purves has been painstakingly restored and outfitted to take visitors back to the days when she was dressed in Roen Steamship Company colors. She’s sailed everywhere from the Great Lakes to the Caribbean to the Bering Sea. She had at least 10 different action-packed lives, including rescuing foundered ships and serving in World War II. Navy radio station

in the Caribbean. Later, she worked towing barges of pulpwood on Lake Superior and then served in WWII as a supply boat to Army garrisons in the Aleutian Islands. In December 1956, Roen Steamship Company of Sturgeon Bay purchased the John Purves and put her to work on all five Great Lakes taking on towing and salvage jobs. The Purves was well known throughout the Great Lakes for her strength and towing capabilities. In fact, due to her might, she made a good living after the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway, rescuing many a saltwater vessel that ran aground in the tricky channels of the Great Lakes. In 2003, she was donated to the Door County Maritime Museum, and sports the crisp colors of the Roen Steamship Company. More than 27,000 volunteer hours were invested to bring the tug back to her glory days of the 1960s.

Address

120 N Madison Avenue
Sturgeon Bay, WI
54235

Opening Hours

Monday 10:30am - 3:30pm
Tuesday 10:30am - 3:30pm
Wednesday 10:30am - 3:30pm
Thursday 10:30am - 3:30pm
Friday 10:30am - 3:30pm
Saturday 10:30am - 3:30pm
Sunday 10:30am - 3:30pm

Telephone

(920) 743-5958

Website

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The Tugboat John Purves

In 1919, the tugboat Butterfield was constructed in Elizabeth, NJ at a length of 149 feet and beam of 27.7 feet. The Butterfield served the US Army during World War II from 1942 to 1945 with the designation LT-145, supplying garrisons in the Aleutian Islands. Captain John Roen of Sturgeon Bay purchased the tug in 1956 and renamed it John Purves in honor of his good friend and the long-time General Manager of the Roen Steamship Company

The John Purves was donated to the Door County Maritime Museum in 2003. Restoration of the tug took five and one half years, over 30,000 volunteer hours and almost $1 Million in cash donations. Since opening as a floating exhibit at the Door County Maritime Museum in 2008, the John Purves has hosted more than 54,000 visitors for tours.