Edna G

The Edna G is a steel tugboat moored at Two Harbors waterfront that lets visitors see how working vessels were constructed and operated from the inside. The boat retains its original steam-powered engine and all mechanical systems from when it was built in the late 1800s.

This vessel was built in 1896 and spent decades working for the shipping industry on the Great Lakes. During the First World War it served the US Navy for four years on the East Coast before returning to work on the lakes until 1981.

The tugboat is named after a local figure and reveals through its design how workers lived and operated vessels on these waters in earlier times. You can observe the tight quarters where crews managed their daily routines while navigating the Great Lakes.

The boat is usually open to visitors during warmer months with access to the engine room and pilot house available. Wear sturdy shoes as the decks and stairs can be tight and slippery.

This boat is one of the oldest operating steam vessels on the lakes and shows engineering from an era when such propulsion was standard. Its engine still runs on the same principles it did over a century ago, showing how reliable this technology was.