Manitowoc Shipbuilders Multi-cache
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This is a multicache that will take you to five waypoints in Manitowoc that are related to commercial shipbuilding. It makes a nice bicycle ride through Manitowoc or can be accomplished via moped or car. The final waypoint is a micro – please bring your own pen!
Manitowoc has a long history of shipbuilding. The very first ship was constructed here in 1847, and new vessels are still being built today. 44 05.931 087 40.314 The first waypoint is the home of the only shipyard in Manitowoc that continues to build ships, The Burger Boat Company. Please do not enter the company property, but you are welcome to enter the parking lot. The Burger Boat Company first began building ships in 1856, and was involved in shipbuilding for both World Wars. Today, the company specializes in luxury yacht construction. Use Burger Boat’s building number to decipher the coordinates to the second waypoint: 44 06.C89 0B7 40.074 _ _ _ _ = Burger’s building number (address) A B C D The second waypoint will take you to the sidewalk in front of a mansion built in 1926 by Elias Gunnell, who, along with Charles West, founded the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company. They had originally worked together for the Chicago Ship Building Company in Chicago, Illinois, but in 1899 they decided to open a shipyard of their own. West, a marine engineer and naval architect, and Gunnell, an experienced shipbuilder, designer, and mechanic, decided to specialize in steel ships rather than wood and chose Manitowoc as the home of their shipyard. Today, the mansion is a private residence, so please do not enter the property without permission. Use the house number from Mr. Gunnell’s mansion to decipher the coordinates for the third waypoint. 44 06.E7G 087 39.968 _ _ _ _ = Gunnell mansion house number E F G H The third waypoint will take you to the sidewalk in front of the mansion built by Charles West in 1926. As co-owner of Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, West was largely responsible for bringing the submarine contracts to Manitowoc during World War II. Today, the mansion is a private residence, so please do not enter the property without permission. To decipher the coordinates for the fourth waypoint use the West mansion’s house number. JL K5.5L5 087 39.IK3 _ _ _ _ = West mansion house number I J K L The fourth waypoint is where Manitowoc’s first ship, the Citizen, was built at the Joseph Edwards shipyard in 1847. It is uncertain which side of the river Edwards’ shipyard was located, but it is possible that is was located right where you are standing. At your current location, find a survey mark and use the year it was placed to decipher the coordinates to the final waypoint: 44 0P.4NM 087 3N.444 _ _ _ _ = Year survey mark was placed M N O P The final will take you to the former location of Manitowoc’s first shipyard and where the city’s maritime tradition and the importance of shipbuilding to the community began. This cache was placed as a partnership with Wisconsin Historical Society and Wisconsin Maritime Museum. We hope you enjoyed learning about the shipbuilders of Manitowoc. To learn more about Wisconsin’s maritime heritage please visit our other geocaches in the Manitowoc / Two Rivers area and throughout the state, or visit wisconsinshipwrecks.org and maritimetrails.org!
Additional Hints
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