Chicago's Christmas Ship

12/28/2025

The ROUSE SIMMONS was launched at the Allen, McClelland & Co shipyard in Milwaukee, WI. She was built for Kenosha lumberman Royal B. Towslee and named in honor of the man who helped arrange for her financing. Rouse’s older brother Zalmon G. Simmons founded the Simmons Bedding Company in 1870 which is still around today. Have you ever slept on a Simmons Beautyrest mattress?

12/24/2025

Shipwreck Hunter and US Coast Guard veteran G. Kent Bellrichard visits with Captain Dan O'Brien of the USCGC Mackinaw.

Shipwreck Hunter and US Coast Guard veteran G. Kent Bellrichard visits with Captain Dan O'Brien of the USCGC Mackinaw to remember the Rouse Simmons and learn...

12/09/2025

Bravo Zulu USCGC Mackinaw & Crew!

See you next December!

12/07/2025

For nearly three decades in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the legendary boat captain Herman Schuenemann hauled loads of Christmas trees during the holiday season from Michigan to be sold in Chicago, Illinois.

He skippered a three-masted schooner famously known as the “Christmas Tree Ship.” But Schuenemann was even better known for his generosity. Each year, he gave many of his Christmas trees away for free to disadvantaged families throughout the Chicago area.

Captain Schuenemann was lovingly nicknamed “Captain Santa.”

Since our first voyage in 2000—and now 26 years later—the mission of Chicago’s Christmas Ship has been to honor and continue this tradition by helping deserving Chicago-area families better enjoy Christmas through the gift of a real Christmas tree.

This mission would not be possible without the support of our many partners, volunteers, and donors. We are extremely grateful to all that understand and support this mission!

The Chicago’s Christmas Ship Committee wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year!

See you next year on Saturday, December 5, 2026.

12/04/2025

Throwback Thursday - It was 2011 and the USCGC Mackinaw experienced an engineering issue preventing her from her ATON & Christmas Ship mission.

USCGC Alder & CDR Durley to the rescue!

Coast Guard Cutter Alder, homeported in Duluth, Minn., delivers more than 750 Christmas trees as Chicago's "Christmas Ship," that different charity groups wi...

12/04/2025

Throwback Thursday - with 9/11 fresh in everyone's mind, CDR Jon Nickerson and the Mackinaw WAGB-83 arrive in Chicago on the second voyage of Chicago's Christmas Ship.

ABC News Broadcast of the 2001 Chicago Christmas Tree Ship with Peter Jennings.

12/03/2025

MLIVE.COM article

A ship helmed by "Captain Santa" and loaded down with Christmas trees for Chicago sank in Lake Michigan more than a century ago.

12/01/2025

post from USCGC Mackinaw WLBB-30

11/30/2025

more information on Saturday's send off in Cheboygan -

11/29/2025

USCGC Mackinaw is underway!

11/27/2025

Dutchman Tree Farms - long time partner of Chicago's Christmas Ship

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BsyGZDDuh/

11/26/2025

Photos from our friends up north at Cheboygan Coast Guard Connection. The Christmas Ship is due to depart Saturday, November 29th.

https://www.cheboyganmainstreet.org/event/christmas-tree-ship-send-off/