"We Have To Go Out" A SPECIAL KCHS Exhibit at the Carnegie Museum

A Special KCHS exhibit Now Available at the Carnegie Museum, Houghton, Michigan

Noted maritime author and current president of the U.S. Life-Saving Heritage Association, Frederick Stonehouse was one of many visitors who attended the opening night reception in November, 2011.

"You have to go out, but you do not have to come back!" was the motto of the surfmen of the U.S. Lifesaving Service. Created in 1871 the Service was dedicated to rescuing victims of shipwrecks. The story is told that when a ship wrecked near Cape Hatteras the lifesaving crew hesitated to go out due to the ferocity of the storm. The old Station Captain told them 'The Blue Book says we've got to go out and it doesn't say a damn thing about having to come back' and out they went. The motto sums up the spirit of the brave men that rescued hundreds of helpless souls. (For more information on the history of the Lifesaving Service see the U.S. Lifesaving Service Living History Association web site. In the Keweenaw the Portage Station was built in 1884 along the Portage Canal in the vicinity of present day McLain State Park. In 1912 the Eagle Harbor Lifesaving Station was built in Eagle Harbor on the opposite shore from the lighthouse.

Visitor's discussing the exhibit during it's opening night reception in November.

While these crews participated in many daring rescues it was the wreck of the steamer L.C. Waldo on a reef near Manitou island in early November of 1913 that brought the surfman's motto home to both stations. The crews had to brave 60 MPH winds, snow, ice, and waves over several days to rescue the 2 women, 22 men, and a dog that had all taken shelter in the broken and stranded bow of the Waldo as the gales of November threatened to pull their ice-covered shelter under the waves. It was the heroic, "You have to go out but you don't have to come back" extraordinary efforts of both crews that led to all surfmen from both stations who participated in the rescue being awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal by the U.S. Treasury, the highest honor awarded to a surfman.

The dress uniform of Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Glaza is one of the items on display.

The Keweenaw County Historical Society's Maritime Committee created the exhibit with the cooperation of many local historians from both Keweenaw County and Stanton Township. It contains many artifacts that help to tell the story of the crews who staffed these lifesaving stations. The exhibit contains many vintage photographs, an early 1920's movie showing Surfmen practicing drills, memorabilia from early 20th-century Surfman Oscar Marshall, the dress uniform of Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Glaza, etc. After the exhibit closes at the Carnegie Museum in May much of it will be displayed at the Keweenaw County Historical Society Eagle Harbor Lifesaving Station Museum, one of the many historical sites operated by the KCHS.

Information about the Carnegie Museum:

The Carnegie Museum is located at 105 Huron Street (MAP) on the corner of Montezuma Avenue and is open to the public. There is no fee to visit but donations are appreciated. The hours are as follows:
Tuesday 12:00 (noon) to 5:00 p.m.
Thursday 12:00 (noon) to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 12:00 (noon) to 4:00 p.m.
Note: The museum will be closed from January 8, 2012 until the end of January, 2012 for minor renovations.

The Carnegie Museum displays rotating exhibits about local history, natural history, science and culture.
For information on current exhibits, special events and exhibit photos please visit the Carnegie Museum Facebook Page.

For additional information you can call the museum at (906) 482-7140 or e-mail history@cityofhoughton.com.

The above information is courtesy of the City of Houghton Web Site, Carnegie Museum page.