TOLEDO, Ohio, June 24, 2010 – The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority and the Great Lakes Historical Society entered into an agreement today to work collaboratively to create the National Great Lakes Maritime Museum to be located at the Toledo Maritime Center on the east side of the Maumee River in Toledo, Ohio.

The venture relocates the Inland Seas Maritime Museum from its current location in Vermillion, Ohio to the Toledo Maritime Center. The agreement also includes partnering with the Willis B. Boyer Museum Ship to create the largest maritime attraction on the Great Lakes, the National Great Lakes Maritime Museum. The Willis B. Boyer Museum Ship will be restored to her original namesake - the Col. James M. Schoonmaker - and relocated to the riverfront adjacent to the museum structure.

“As the first Port Authority in the State of Ohio, the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority has always been a maritime leader. This agreement allows us to further our goal of establishing the Port of Toledo as the capital of the Great Lakes – past, present and future,” says Paul Toth, President and CEO of the Toledo- Lucas County Port Authority. “We have found an excellent partner in the Great Lakes Historical Society and we look forward to fostering the perseveration of our local maritime history together.”

The Great Lakes Historical Society plans to begin development of the Toledo facility next spring and open for the inaugural season in the spring of 2012. The Willis B. Boyer Museum Ship is scheduled to travel to the Toledo Shipyard for restoration in October 2010. Upon restoration, the Boyer will be returned to her original location adjacent to International Park for the 2011 season in preparation for her centennial celebration which will be July 1, 2011. Upon completion of the 2011 season, the Boyer will be moved to the National Great Lakes Maritime Museum.

The Great Lakes Historical Society’s goal over the next decade is to expand the facility to accommodate research activities, to attract traveling exhibits and to broaden educational programming. The museum will also serve as an anchor point for future riverfront development as it is adjacent to Edison Park and the newly developed City of Toledo Marina Drive area. The Great Lakes Historical Society has also begun talks with the City of Toledo regarding the management of the Toledo Skyway Marina, located adjacent to the Toledo Maritime Center.

"Toledo's waterfront is a vital component of our quality of life and should play a greater role in economic development. Welcoming the Great Lakes Historical Society is one of many steps toward this goal and will help renew the energy on the riverfront,” said Toledo Mayor Michael P. Bell. “The partnership is a great match for the facility and reflects our maritime history."

“This agreement is the culmination of a great deal of hard work by all of the involved parties. The final product, a National Great Lakes Maritime Museum for Toledo, Ohio, will be worth our collective blood, sweat and tears,” said Jim Karpinksi, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Great Lakes Historical Society. “I am confident that in ten years we will look back on this moment with tremendous satisfaction.”

The Toledo Maritime Center, completed in November 2007, was funded by a Federal Ferry Boat Discretionary Grant, and was created to foster the development of cross-lake ferry service in this region. The museum will allow ferry boat passengers to witness Great Lakes history while waiting to board a vessel.

“Our focus has always been on the continued development of ferry service via this facility and adding this historic maritime attraction allows us to fully utilize the space while establishing it as a major destination via waterborne transportation,” says Paul LaMarre, Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority Manager of Maritime Affairs.

It is the mission of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority to continuously leverage our strategic geographic position, resources and economic development proficiency to provide increased business opportunities—built upon and around our innovative transportation and logistics expertise—while promoting our community and region within the global marketplace. We will accomplish this through unmatched speed and efficiency of service, collaborative and strategic partnerships, community stewardship and the continued generation and execution of new ideas and innovations.