Edna G is a tugboat which worked the Great Lakes and is now preserved as a museum ship. Edna G was built by the Cleveland Shipbuilding Company in 1896 for the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad at a cost $35,397.50. She was named for the daughter of J. L. Greatsinger, president of the railroad.[4]

History
United States
NameEdna G
OwnerDuluth and Iron Range Railroad
BuilderCleveland Shipbuilding Company
Cost$35,397.50
In service1898–1931, 1933–1981
StatusNational Historic Landmark
General characteristics
TypeTugboat
Length92.42 feet (28.17 m)
Beam23 feet (7.0 m)
Depth7.42 feet (2.26 m)
Installed powercoal-fired steam-engine
Edna G
Edna G is located in Minnesota
Edna G
LocationTwo Harbors, Minnesota
Coordinates47°1′0.84″N 91°40′21.52″W / 47.0169000°N 91.6726444°W / 47.0169000; -91.6726444
Built1896[2]
ArchitectCleveland Ship Building Company[3]
NRHP reference No.75002144[1]
Added to NRHPJune 5, 1975[3]

She has a length of 92.42 feet (28.17 m), a beam of 23 feet (7.0 m), a depth of 7.42 feet (2.26 m), a gross register tonnage of 154 tons, and a net register tonnage of 67 tons.[5]

Home-ported at Two Harbors, Minnesota, Edna G moved ships and barges carrying iron ore and taconite from the Mesabi Range and other smaller sites in the Iron Range region of northeast Minnesota. She spent her entire working career at Two Harbors with the exception of World War I (1917–1919) when she served on the eastern seaboard. She was out of service from 1931 to 1933 due to the depression.[4]

Over the years Edna G was involved in several shipwreck rescues including the surviving crew of the Madeira. Her last tow was the Cason J. Calloway on December 30, 1980. She was the last coal-fired, steam-engine tug in service on the lakes when she was retired in 1981.[2][4]

Edna G. is one of the attractions of the Lake County Historical Society in Two Harbors. Following reports of continued weakening of the hull though corrosion and exposure to ice, in January 2017 Two Harbors City Council initiated further studies of the viability of continuing her preservation ashore.[6][7]

References

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  1. ^ "National Register of Historic Places". National Park Service. 2007-10-16.
  2. ^ a b "Edna G. Tugboat". Lake County Historical Society. Archived from the original on 2001-11-05. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
  3. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  4. ^ a b c "Water Transportation: Edna G. (tugboat)". Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
  5. ^ "Museum Tug Edna G. Getting Some Repairs" (PDF). Tugs Towing & Offshore Newsletter. 14 (47): 4–5. 2013-08-18. Retrieved 2016-01-13.
  6. ^ Whitefoot, Adelle (27 January 2017). "Plea made for the Edna G." Lake County News Chronicle. Two Harbors, MN. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  7. ^ Whitefoot, Adelle (3 February 2017). "Two Harbors Council holds strategic planning meeting to discuss priorities". Lake County News Chronicle. Two Harbors, MN. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
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