TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – Santa is bringing a boatload of Christmas trees to the National Museum of the Great Lakes (NMGL) for local families as part of the museum’s largest community giveback event of the year.
The museum will host its annual Christmas Tree Ship event on Saturday, Dec. 6. On that day, Santa will arrive by tugboat at the museum with live, donated trees.
Museum admission is free.
The community is invited to buy a live 5–7 ft. Christmas tree or gift card to donate to a community member in need. Each donation will also include a matching healthy hygiene kit.
Trees come from Matthes Tree Farm in Ida, Michigan.
You can sign up to give or get a tree here through Nov. 30 at 1 p.m.
Families in need of a donated tree can also contact United Way’s Community Resource Advisors by dialing 211.
“This event embodies who we are as a museum—not just a place that preserves, shares, and celebrates history, but a place that also uplifts our community,” said Sara Smith, Director of Institutional Advancement at NMGL.
NMGL says the event blends holiday tradition with Great Lakes history.
According to the museum, on November 23, 1912, the schooner Rouse Simmons sank while carrying Christmas trees. That ship is known as the original Christmas Tree Ship.
Its captain, Herman E. Schuenemann (a.k.a. “Captain Santa”), was known for giving trees to families in need.
The story of the ship and its captain inspired the annual Christmas Tree Ship event.
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This article was published by WTVG on 2025-11-19 12:42:00
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