THUNDER BAY — When the former icebreaker Alexander Henry opens for public tours in June, it will cost adults $9 to board the historic vessel.
Seniors and children will pay $7, and family and group rates will also be offered.
The Lakehead Transportation Museum Society (LTMS), whose volunteers have worked diligently to recondition the ship since she was towed to Thunder Bay from Kingston last summer, needs to generate revenue to cover the cost of maintaining the attraction.
President Charlie Brown says the group had hoped to be ready for public visits in May, but the Alexander Henry was only moved to her final location on Tuesday.
It was a short trip—just 21 metres farther along the cruise ship dock at the former Pool 6 elevator site.
"We have to cable it up so it permanently won't move, and then we have to do our final inspections, and then hopefully we'll be opening the doors to the public...I'm gonna say within a two-week period," Brown told Tbnewswatch.
He said that when it's ready for tours, visitors will be able to drive into the site and park their vehicles close by. "We've just extended our fence line here, and there will be all kinds of available parking right in front of the ship," Brown said.
Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior brought two scale model lighthouses to the site on Tuesday.
Brown said they are being placed in front of the gate, "and people will be able to walk between the lighthouses, board the Henry, tour the entire ship and see our museum rooms."
But there's more work to be done in preparation for the grand opening.
The LTMS is looking for volunteers to complete the cleaning of both the interior and the exterior of the ship. Work crews are currently being put together.
Anyone willing to help should contact the LTMS through its website or phone Brown directly at 355-5277.
