What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 4:30pm Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm Thursday 9am - 4:30pm Friday 9am - 4:30pm Saturday 9am - 4:30pm Sunday 9am - 4:30pm

Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre

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Gravenhurst, ON
Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre

Step back in time as you board the grandest of vessels, the RMS Segwun steamship or Wenonah II for a breathtaking Muskoka lakes cruise.

Be sure to include a visit to the Muskoka Discovery Centre featuring insightful and entertainment exhibits! Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre is a registered charity and non-profit leader in preserving, promoting and celebrating the culture and heritage of Canada's Muskoka District. Our mission is to present dynamic, entertaining and educational experiences through our iconic steamships and th

e Muskoka Discovery Centre. The Discovery Centre is open all year round. Our ships - RMS Segwun and Wenonah II - sail from late May to mid October each year. You haven't truly experienced Muskoka, if you haven't sailed on one of our steamships!

11/13/2024

Thanks to Alan Brown for sharing this glorious capture of our Royal Mail Ship Segwun! She just never takes a bad photo! 🚢❤️

11/13/2024

"My sister and I at the Port Carling lock about 1948 or so."
📷 Michael Webb

11/12/2024

🎩 The very grand Beaumaris Hotel - 1908 🎩
Fresh air and great fishing drew tourists from as far away as Pittsburgh to Beaumaris. By 1887, The Beaumaris Hotel was described as one of the finest summer resorts accommodating 150 guests who journeyed by train to Gravenhurst, then boarded steamers to reach Beaumaris, the site of many regattas. Unfortunately this hotel met the same fate as many resorts, burning down in July 1945.

11/12/2024

👨‍✈️ Meet our Senior Captain and a true gentleman, Glen Murley!👨‍✈️
"I have been told that I have the best job in the world and I have to say that I probably do. It's more of a passion for me. I think back to the early 1960's when I was about four years old and my grandfather taking me out on the water. Although I spent some of my summers here in Muskoka, most of my summers were spent in Newfoundland. My great grandfather was a sea captain who sailed on schooners around the world. I learned to love the sea and learned to respect it as well. I joined the RMS Segwun as Master in 1999 and, in 2002, was also proud to take on the roll of Master of the newest passenger vessel, Wenonah II. I feel very lucky to spend my day on the water and to see the beauty of Muskoka from the very best seat in the house, the bridge of the ship."

11/11/2024

FREE LAND IN MUSKOKA! 🌲🌳
The passage of the Free Grants and Homestead Act of 1868 opened settlement to Muskoka. Settlers could receive free land if they agreed to clear the land, have at least 15 acres under cultivation, and build a 16x20 ft house. Settlers under the Homestead Act, however, found the going hard. Clearing 15 acres of dense forest is a huge task. Once the land was clear, the settlers had to attack Muskoka's ubiquitous rocks, which also had to be cleared. Consisting largely of a dense clay, the soil in the region turned out to be poorly suited to farming.
As news of the difficult conditions spread, development in Muskoka began to falter, but development of the steamship revived industry. In a time when the railroads had not yet arrived and road travel was notoriously unreliable and uncomfortable, the transportation king was the steamship.

11/11/2024

What's the connection between Segwun & the Appalachian Mountains?
Segwun's coal comes from either Pennsylvania or Kentucky from one of the few coal mines still in operation. The coal has less impurities, burns well and the coal chunks are ideally sized for Segwun (8 to 10" variable shapes). Did you also know that the ash expelled from the coal actually helps to neutralize acid rain in the lakes?

11/11/2024

Thanks to Lorraine Etler for sharing this photo of her grandfather, Captain Henshaw, at the wharf in Bracebridge - circa 1930's.
Captain Henshaw was at the helm of the Waome when tragedy struck on October 6, 1934. Without warning, a tremendous gust of wind shrieked across the open water, catching the Waome broadside and rolling her 30 degrees. Water poured in through port holes, rapidly filling the hold. The vessel instantly began to lose buoyancy, and moments later she was swallowed up by the lake. While Captain Henshaw survived the sinking, the swim to shore proved too much for him. The Waome sits in tact on the bottom of Lake Muskoka close to Seven Sisters Islands.

11/10/2024

For 77 years, trains from Toronto would connect with steamers at the Muskoka Wharf. Thousands of passengers and huge consignments of freight and baggage were unloaded from the trains to the steamers and back again. By the turn of the centre, the Grand Trunk Railway had to send up to 5 trains a day to handle the rush.

11/10/2024

🖍🎀🎁HEY KIDS! 🎁🎀🖍
Send us your drawing or painting of the Segwun or Wenonah II, and you will be entered in a CONTEST TO WIN a NOAH'S ARK CRUISE for a family of four next summer!🦝🦨🦫🦔
Send us your artwork throughout the month of November by email to [email protected], include in the comments below or drop it off at the Muskoka Steamships office at 185 Cherokee Lane in Gravenhurst. All entries will be featured on social media. Winner announced Dec 6th.

11/10/2024

Thanks to Tara Jennings for sharing this amazing photo of Segwun on the Muskoka River cruising by what is now Santa’s Village - circa 1954.

11/09/2024

A grand celebration in Bracebridge! As far back as 1925, Segwun's daily route included carrying passengers, mail and freight up the Muskoka River to Bracebridge. Construction of the Wellington Street bridge in Bracebridge began in 1982 and was open for travel in 1984 which, unfortunately, meant that the Segwun could no longer sail into Bracebridge Bay.

Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce
Town of Bracebridge

11/09/2024

Alongside the heyday of the steamships back in the 1920's and 1930's, the Big Band era was thriving and the Kee To Bala (Dunn's Pavilion) was the place to be with legends like Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Louis Armstrong appearing. 🎹🎻🎺🎷

11/08/2024

DID YOU KNOW that the 100-Mile Cruise was one of the most celebrated tourist attractions in North America? 🎩🚢⏳
In 1920, the Navigation Company made yet another contribution to the Muskoka tourist industry, when it inaugurated the 100-Mile Cruise. First conceived by Captain Ralph Lee, longtime Master of the steamer Sagamo, the cruise was simply an outgrowth of the regular mail and transport routes of the lake steamers, which were then plying to nearly 76 resort hotels two or three times a day. The difference was that visitors would now come on a sleeper train to Gravenhurst, board the Sagamo bright and early in the morning, and cruise through the three lakes, with a stopover at the Natural Park, which the Navigation Company developed at the head of Little Lake Joseph. The other ships acted as feeders to the Sagamo, conducting the cruise from other ports, such as Bracebridge, Bala and Rosseau: very commonly the boats would meet twice a day at Beaumaris or in mid-lake to exchange freight, mail and passengers.

11/08/2024

Enjoying lunch or dinner in one of the ship's dining salons is a treasured memory for so many of our passengers. Complete with gleaming woodwork, polished brass and the ship's own china, the dining experience is nothing short of spectacular and only enhanced by the panoramic, lakeside view!

11/07/2024

In 2012, the spectacular 100-Mile Cruise was recreated in celebration of Segwun’s 125th anniversary. This awe-inspiring, all day event featured Segwun and Wenonah II sailing together up to Lake Joseph and accompanied by over 100 antique & class boats!! What do you think? Should this breathtaking experience be brought back again?

11/07/2024

⛵️🎩🌊 MUSKOKA REGATTAS 🌊🎩⛵️
As the number of hotels and resorts in Muskoka grew rapidly in the early 1900's (accommodating almost 5,000 visitors by 1909), regattas came to be the highlight of the season. While the Muskoka Lakes Association held its first annual regatta in 1894 at Windermere, larger hotels would vie for the honour of hosting this prestigious event. What a sight it was! An amazing flotilla of steam launches, sailboats, canoes and rowboats coming from all directions across the lakes. Flags and banners flew everywhere and a grandstand was often constructed for the viewing pleasure of dignitaries. So popular were the annual regattas that people from predominantly Toronto would come up just for the day. The crowds grew larger each year - it is estimated that 4,000 participants and spectators attended the 1901 regatta at the Royal Muskoka Hotel.

11/07/2024

The flagship of the fleet, Sagamo, was considered to be Muskoka's mini ocean liner carrying up to 800 passengers to resorts and summer destinations. Sagamo's last cruise was on Labour Day in 1958.

11/06/2024

"Segwun is now our only genuine link to a gracious, elegant past era, when life was slower, manners more refined, and people more content with their lot". ❤🚢

Address

185 Cherokee Lane (Muskoka Wharf)
Gravenhurst, ON
P1P1Z9

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	9am - 4:30pm
Thursday	9am - 4:30pm
Friday	9am - 4:30pm
Saturday	9am - 4:30pm
Sunday	9am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+18666876667

Website

https://realmuskoka.com/

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Videos

100-Mile Cruise

Wenonah II High Tea

Experience High Tea in the Wenonah II's dining salon! Upgrade your 1.5 hour cruise with the addition of the high tea package and enjoy an authentic high tea service while cruising on beautiful Lake Muskoka! There are only a couple more weeks of cruises left, so book today! High tea can be booked online along with your cruise at www.realmuskoka.com or by calling 705-687-6667. #cruise #muskoka #hightea #lakemuskoka #muskokasteamships #fallcolourcruise

Wanda III out for testing as we work towards Transport Canada certification! The ship is looking great as she glides across Muskoka Bay with her new electric engines. Stay tuned for more updates on Wanda III: Steam to Green! #wandaIII #muskoka #steamtogreen #electricboat

After sailing out of Port Carling all week the Wenonah II is finally on her way back to her home port of Gravenhurst. Book your weekend cruise online at www.realmuskoka.com or call 1-866-687-6667 #MuskokaSteamships #MuskokaDiscoveryCentre #thingstodoinmuskoka #GravenhurstWharf #lakemuskoka #portcarling

CALLING ALL PIRATES! Join us on the last quest of the season on Lake Muskoka to find the hidden treasures this Sunday - September 1st! Book online or call to reserve your tickets for the last Captain Corbin adventure this season! Use code PIRATE20 to get 20% off regular priced tickets for adults, seniors and kids aged 3-12 - call or book online! #muskokasteamships #thingstodoinMuskoka #thingstodoinGravenhurst #WenonahII #piratecruise #MuskokaSteamships #MuskokaDiscoveryCentre #PirateShip

The first Wenonah Pirate cruise of the season! Standing room only. Face painting and Pirate Snacks to be had. Use your cruise discount (adults-$15, kids- free) to visit the award winning Muskoka Discovery Centre after the cruise. #MuskokaSteamships #MuskokaDiscoveryCentre #thingstodoinmuskoka #pirates #GravenhurstWharf #PirateShip #WenonahII #gravenhurst

Sip n’Sample is BACK! This Saturday, July 6th the evening cruise features the world famous Oyster Bay Wines . Come onboard to explore the world of wine or upgrade and add a 3-course meal to your cruise! Music onboard by the Mitch Beube and Jason Crawford. Tickets are limited — Book early. Don’t forget you can get discounted admission to @Muskoka Discovery Centre when you book a cruise. www.realmuskoka.com or call 1-866-687-6666 #MuskokaSteamships #sightseeingcruises #CruiseIntoSummer #WenonahII #MuskokaWharf #muskokasteamships #MuskokaDiscoveryCentre #cruise #sipandsample #thingstodoinmuskoka

Wanda III was out for testing as work continues on her restoration and electrification. Stay tuned to our social media and website for more information about Wanda's official relaunch and cruise schedule! www.realmuskoka.com #muskoka #wandaiii #steamtogreen #cruise #muskokadiscoverycentre

Wenonah II visiting 3 special docks on Lakes Rosseau for special cruises!

Did you know our ships can dock at many local resorts, ports of call, and even private cottages on the Muskoka Lakes? Check out this video where the Wenonah II cruised into 3 different docks in one day for special private charters! We visited Rosseau Lake College, Windermere, and the Muskoka Lakes Golf & Country Club on beautiful Lake Rosseau. Host your next special event with us, wether it be a wedding, corporate function, staff appreciaton, or any other celebration, and give your guests an experience they won't soon forget! www.realmuskoka.com or call 1-866-687-6667. #muskoka #muskokalakes #lakerosseau #cruise #privatecharter #wenonahii #steamships

One week until the Wenonah II cruise to Walkers Point for the Canada Day Fireworks display. Book Online or call 705-687-6667 www.realmuskoka.com #MuskokaSteamships #WenonaII #CanadaDayWeekendFireworks #cruises #walkerspointmarina