Friends of the Society:
The Friends of the Society program, now in its fourth year, offers a unique level of membership in the Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society and is an important part of its funding. Friends’ membership donations allow the Society to maintain and operate the Muskoka Steamships and the Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre for the benefit of Muskoka residents and cottagers as well as offering its world class experience to individuals and groups from all over North America and, indeed, from around the world.
Through continued funding support we sustain delivery of excellent educational programs and interactive displays that offer visitors insight into Muskoka's social, economic, steamship, boat building and cultural history.
The Friends of the Society is a program of annual giving in the amount of $1,000 or more and is currently
50 members strong. The Friends program is being enhanced in 2010 with rich new levels of benefit for its
members:
Benefits include:
- Tax receipt in the amount of $1,000
- Free admission to the Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre for member and guest
- Complimentary Friends-only sailing and event
- Special, advanced notice, invitation to members-only events and sales
- Friends of the Society name badge for you and your spouse, to be worn as special recognition at all
ship and Heritage Centre events
- Recognition on Ditchburn Wall inside the Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre
- Each year's donation is added to previous giving to enhance your position on the Muskoka
Steamships & Historical Society donor board
- Society magazine and newsletter
- Discount of 10% on public Segwun or Wenonah II cruises
- Discount of 10% on regular-priced items in the gift shops
Please consider becoming a Friend.
Click here to download a Friends Membership Application.
Or enquire by email (cathy@realmuskoka.com) or phone (705-687-6667)
- Fundraising
- Membership
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Corporate Membership
- Junior Membership
- Historical Society Awards
- The Real Muskoka Story
- Friends of the Society
- Directors, Committees & Staff
Did you know?
- The R.M.S. Segwun continues to be recognized by Canada Post as a "Royal Mail Ship" and that mail can be hand-franked or cancelled from the ship as they did more than 100 years ago.
- In 1974, the Segwun was recommissioned by Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
- In 1996, the Wanda III Steam Yacht was recommissioned by Prime Minister Jean Chretien.
- The Segwun's coal comes all the way from Kentucky.
- Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre opened in 2006 and celebrates Muskoka's steamship era, grand resorts and hotels and the region's rich boat-building history.
- Wenonah II is Canada's newest passenger vessel combining turn-of-the-century charm with modern conveniences such as air-conditioning and an on board elevator.
- The Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre is home to North America's largest in-water display of antique and classic boats.
- The ship's private label wine is one of the few given permission by the LCBO to be sold in stores throughout Ontario.
- In 2001 and 2002, the Segwun won the award of "Best Large Attraction" by Attractions Canada.
- In 1988, the Segwun won the prestigious "Phoenix Award" presented by the Society of American Travel Writers. Recipients are chosen for their outstanding efforts in preservation and conservation.
- In years past, a steamship purser used to take tickets as passengers boarded. Today, our Purser is responsible for all guest services on board including your dining experience.
- The Segwun used to carry passengers, freight and mail to a variety of ports on the Muskoka lakes before the days of the automobile.
- Each year, the Segwun and Wenonah II host upwards of 30 memorable wedding ceremonies and receptions.
- In recent years the shift to air transport for mail has left only three ships with the right to the prefix; RMS Segwun, which serves as a passenger vessel in Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada, RMS St Helena, which serves the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic,[9] and RMS Queen Mary 2. QM2 was conferred "RMS" by Royal Mail when she entered service in 2004 on the Southampton to New York route as a gesture to Cunard's history – The RMS Segwun is the oldest Royal Mail Ship in the world.