Think & Drink: Tragedy of the Phoenix

Jumping overboard from a burning ship into the icy November waters of Lake Michigan or remaining on board to die. Only two lifeboats were available for the approximately 215 passengers and crew on board the Phoenix. In the last leg of the journey from Manitowoc to Sheboygan,  the boilers had overheated, and the ship caught fire four miles from the shore.

This lecture will examine the impact of this tragedy on Dutch emigration to Wisconsin and the lives of the survivors. It will explore the significance of letters written to the Netherlands and their impact on emigration, as well as the discovery of letters written within days of the event concerning David Blish and his sacrifice to save the children. It will also address how the legacy of this story survived and what its impact has been on current generations.

Admission is free and open to the public, with refreshments available for purchase. Each event features a specialty cocktail.

Doors and cash bar open at 6:00 PM. Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase at the limited bar. The presentation and livestream will begin at 6:30 PM. To access the livestream of this event, please register here: https://forms.gle/V2uGqBvxh1wyk77L6

Mary Risseeuw is an independent historian, professional genealogist, writer, lecturer and artist. She has researched 19th & 20th century Dutch immigration to the U.S. for over 35 years.  She has published and lectured throughout the U.S. and the Netherlands.  She serves on the Board of Directors of the Association for the Advancement of Dutch American Studies.

The Wisconsin Maritime Museum is located at 75 Maritime Drive, Manitowoc, WI 54220. This program is funded in part by a grant from the Green Bay Packers Foundation. For more information about this talk and upcoming events at the Museum, please visit our website: wisconsinmaritime.org