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USCGC MACKINAW History
MACKINAW (WAGB-83) displayed with the original white hull,
and later with the red hull.
A Brief History on MACKINAW (WAGB-83) and MACKINAW (WLBB-30)
The following is a brief history of the two Great Lakes Icebreakers named MACKINAW: USCGC MACKINAW (WLBB-30) and the cutter that she continues the legacy of USCGC MACKINAW (WAGB-83).
The name Mackinaw has its roots in the ancient Native American language of the Great Lakes. Specifically, it is derived from the word Michilimackinac in the Ojibwa language, meaning “Island of the Great Turtle”. Both Mackinaw (the English derivation) and Mackinac (the French derivation where “ac” is pronounced “aw”) are derived from this word and pronounced (Mak’inô).
MACKINAW (WAGB-83) was constructed during World War II in response to the need to keep shipping active during the winter months to maintain production of steel. MACKINAW (WAGB-83) began operations soon after the commissioning on 20 December 1944. Homeported in Cheboygan, Michigan, MACKINAW (WAGB-83) provided over 60 years of outstanding service to the communities and commercial enterprises of the Great Lakes. Her age made her very expensive and difficult to maintain. And thus she was decommissioned in June 2006 where she now serves as a beautiful lakeside maritime museum in Mackinaw City, Michigan.
USCGC MACKINAW (WLBB-30) was designed and constructed to provide multi-mission capabilities with state of the art systems. Some of the missions that the new MACKINAW conducts on the Great Lakes are search and rescue, buoy tending, domestic icebreaking, Maritime Homeland Security operations, pollution response, law enforcement and public affairs. She carries on the proud legacy and tradition of her predecessor in providing service to the maritime community in the Great Lakes. MACKINAW (WLBB-30) is also homeported in Cheboygan, Michigan.
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