Before the era of massive cruise ships dominating the seas, Michiganders boarded elegant steamships across the Great Lakes—and many of the most famous ones were designed by one man.

His name was Frank E. Kirby, and despite shaping Great Lakes history with legendary ships, he has largely been forgotten.

Today, we’re sharing the story behind a new book that finally shines a light on one of Michigan’s greatest ship designers.

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Oakland University moves forward with data center (ClickOnDetroit): Oakland University’s Board of Trustees has approved the next step toward a proposed on-campus data center and AI institute. Critics, meanwhile, continue to raise concerns over the center’s potential energy use and environmental effects.

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Cover of “The Great Lakes Ships of Frank E. Kirby.” (Lily Cole)

By Capital News Service

A new book, “The Great Lakes Ships of Frank E. Kirby” (Michigan State University Press, $29.95), explores the life of a prolific Midwestern naval architect whose vessels once carried passengers who are still alive today.

Kirby was a naval architect in the early 20th century who designed steamboats such as SS Milwaukee Clipper, SS Columbia, and SS Ste. Claire. Though no longer operational, these three ships are the only Kirby boats still remaining. 

As of today, the SS Columbia can be found in Buffalo, while the SS Ste. Claire is at Detroit’s Riverside Marina after a 2018 fire consumed its wooden decks. The ship’s current owner hopes to refurbish the vessel.

The Milwaukee Clipper is docked on Muskegon Lake and is presently a ship museum.

Another famous Kirby boat, the SS City of Detroit III, was scrapped in 1956, but its English Gothic Room—a part of the ship located on the upper deck and used as a men’s smoking room—was preserved and located on Belle Isle in the Dossin Great Lake Museum.

In the book, author Richard Gebhart describes a profile of Kirby as “long overdue.” That’s because no one has gotten around to writing about him, Gebhart said.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Karel Vega with a feature story from Capital News Service. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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