HISTORIC STEAMSHIP WILLIAM G. MATHER
OPENS FOR THE SEASON THIS WEEKEND

April 20th, 2011

CLEVELAND (April 20, 2011) – Beginning April 22, guests will get the opportunity to discover what life was like aboard a working Great Lakes freighter, the Steamship William G. Mather. This spring and summer, visitors will be able to explore the 1925-built Mather from bow to stern and see its huge cargo holds, brass and oak pilot house, elegant guest quarters and four-story engine room. Visitors can walk the decks and marvel at the “engineering firsts” that helped transform Northeast Ohio into a great industrial center.

Events held on the Mather include:

Rock and Boom (July 4 weekend; 6 p.m.)
Celebrate Independence Day in style from the decks of the Mather and watch Cleveland’s fireworks. Food and drinks can be purchased on board and fireworks will begin at dusk. Cost is $12 ($10 for members). Call 216-621-2400 to register.

Great Lakes Adventure Week (July 4 – 10)
Join us for a celebration of our inland seas with a multitude of water-related, hands-on activities both at the Science Center and aboard the Steamship Mather. Discover exactly why water is such an important resource and how large of a role the Great Lakes play in our ecosystem.

Air Show Deck Party (Sept. 4-6; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
Get the best seats in the house and watch the 2011 Cleveland National Air Show on board the Mather. Food and drinks are available for purchase on board. Cost is $15 ($12 for members).

The Mather also hosts some of the Science Center’s Great Summer Science Day Camps. Visit www.greatscience.com/educate/programs.php for more details.

Guest can now walk to the Mather through the new 400’ glass connector linking the steamship to the Science Center. Constructed with industrial materials to represent the mining and industrial roots of the Mather and Cleveland’s port, the Connector is the first step to providing year-round access to the steamship and the stepping stone to a major redevelopment of exhibits aboard the steamship.

The Steamship William G. Mather is open 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday during May, September and October, and daily during June, July and August. Tickets are available onsite and at Great Lakes Science Center’s box office. Cost is $6.95 for adults, $5.95 for seniors, $4.95 for youths ages 5-17, and free for members.

Due to its historic nature, the Mather has limited handicapped accessibility.

About the Great Lakes Science Center

Great Lakes Science Center is one of the nation’s leading science and technology centers and home to Northeast Ohio’s NASA Glenn Visitor Center. Its mission is to stimulate interest in and increase understanding of the sciences, with a particular emphasis on the interdependence of scientific, environmental and technological activities in the Great Lakes region. It features hundreds of hands-on exhibits, themed traveling exhibits, daily demonstrations, the awe-inspiring OMNIMAX® Theater and the Steamship William G. Mather. The Science Center is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Discounted parking is available for guests in the attached 500-car garage. Great Lakes Science Center is generously funded by the citizens of Cuyahoga County through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. For more information, contact the Science Center at (216) 694-2000 or visit www.GreatScience.com.

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