AVR 661, Crash rescue boat in Calumet Harbor, Chicago, US
The AVR 661 is a crash rescue boat permanently moored at Calumet Harbor in Chicago's South Deering neighborhood. The vessel displays the equipment and design of a specialized watercraft built for emergency response operations.
The boat was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 for its role in Lake Michigan rescue operations. This recognition marked its importance as a documented part of the region's maritime history.
The vessel shows how Chicago valued water safety and developed rescue methods over time. You can see the practical tools and design that made emergency response possible on Lake Michigan.
You can visit through guided tours that explain how this rescue boat operated and what made it effective. It is best to contact ahead to confirm tour availability and timing before visiting.
This boat is one of only two watercraft properties listed in Chicago's National Register of Historic Places. The other is a German submarine from World War II, also preserved as a memorial.
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