Upcoming Monthly Presentations
Previous Saginaw River Marine Historical Society (SRMHS) Saturday evening presentations are here.
On the Saginaw River Marine Historical Society (SRMHS) YouTube channel at youtube.com/@srmhs, you will find FREE video recordings of some of the past SRMHS monthly presentations. You can subscribe to the SRMHS YouTube channel to be notified about new presentations and other content.
The Saginaw River Marine Historical Society has seven monthly FREE presentations a year and they start at 6:30 pm on the third Saturday of each month USUALLY at Trinity Episcopal Church, 815 N. Grant St. (and Center Ave.), Bay City, Michigan (unless there is a different location / day / time for a specific presentation). Please use the Fifth Street entrance at the back of the church. A map with the location of the church from Google Maps is here. NOTE: Our regular presentations are open to the public and there is no charge to attend. Customarily, there are no presentations in May, June, July, August, and December.
In this short video, the first photo is of Jeff Letzkus working as a pilot on the MV Fuldaborg. The rest of the photos show the Great Lakes vessels that he worked on in chronological order: Alpena, J.A.W. Iglehart, Paul H. Townsend, Maumee, Calumet, and Manitowoc. Photos by Jeff Letzkus and Todd Shorkey.
September 2025 Saginaw River Marine Historical Society presentation...
FREE program: Jeff Letzkus with "Driving on the Great Lakes: Stories of a Local Captain"
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Trinity Episcopal Church, 815 N. Grant St. (and Center Ave.), Bay City, Michigan
Jeff Letzkus was a merchant mariner on the Great Lakes for 28 years, including 12 years as a captain and 6 years on salt water vessels as a pilot. Great Lakes vessels that Jeff worked on in chronological order: Alpena, JAW Iglehart, Paul H. Townsend, Maumee, Calumet, Manitowoc, back to the Alpena, then he worked on salt water vessels as a pilot. He retired in April 2025.
Jeff's parents were members of the Saginaw River Marine Historical Society. His dad was a SRMHS Board member. Jeff graduated from Midland High School in 1994 and then attended Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City, graduating in 1997.
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​​Map with the location of Trinity Episcopal Church from Google Maps is here​.​
"SRMHS Annual Memorial Service for men and women from the Saginaw Valley who lost their lives while working on boats on the Great Lakes"
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On Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 4:00 pm, the Saginaw River Marine Historical Society will hold its Annual Memorial Service for men and women from the Saginaw Valley who lost their lives while working on boats on the Great Lakes. This short service will be held at the USS EDSON. The public is welcome to attend.
(Since May 7, 2013, the USS EDSON has been located just inside Bay County's Bangor Township, permanently moored in the Saginaw River. A map from Google Maps showing the location of the USS EDSON is here.
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The postal address for the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum, home of the USS EDSON DD-946: 1680 Martin St, Bay City, Michigan.)
October 2025 Saginaw River Marine Historical Society presentation...
FREE Program: Gordy Garris with “A Look at the Future of the Saginaw River with Images of the Saginaw River and the Great Lakes”
​Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Trinity Episcopal Church, 815 N. Grant St. (and Center Ave.), Bay City, Michigan​​​​
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Gordy Garris is from Saginaw and has been interested in the Saginaw River his entire life. He is a musician and a nurse practitioner and is associated with the Freedom Boat Club at Wheeler’s Landing Yacht Harbor. Gordy is a certified drone pilot and a licensed boat captain. He is a boat captain for the Soo Locks boat tour and will be sharing photographs and drone shots of the river. He will also discuss the future of the Saginaw River.
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Map with the location of Trinity Episcopal Church from Google Maps is here​.
November 2025 Saginaw River Marine Historical Society presentation...
FREE Program: Bob Myers with "Of Icebergs and Inquiries: Michiganders on the Titanic"
​Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Saginaw River Marine Historical Society Museum and Gift Shop (located near the center court fountain) in the Bay City Town Center (formerly known as Bay City Mall). Bay City Town Center address is 4101 E. Wilder Rd., Bay City, Michigan
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When the luxury ocean liner RMS Titanic went down in 1912, many Michiganders tragically lost their lives. Within a week, U.S. Senator William Alden Smith of Grand Rapids convened the U.S. inquiry into the disaster. Learn about the Michigan survivors and victims, as well as Senator Smith's far-reaching quest for answers.
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Robert (Bob) Myers is the Director of History Programming for the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM).
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Map with the location of the Saginaw River Marine Historical Society Museum and Gift Shop in the Bay City Town Center (formerly known as Bay City Mall) is here.
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Photo: Bob Myers
January 2026 Saginaw River Marine Historical Society presentation...
FREE Program: "To Be Announced," by Cassandra Sadler, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
​Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Trinity Episcopal Church, 815 N. Grant St. (and Center Ave.), Bay City, Michigan
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Cassandra Sadler is a maritime archaeologist and Research Protection Specialist for NOAA's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, based in Alpena, Michigan. Hailing from Delaware, she spent her academic career participating in projects in Rhode Island, the Mid-Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Bass Strait, Bermuda, and Cyprus before moving up to the Great Lakes in 2022. As a NOAA Diver, Cassandra enjoys exploring and documenting the dozens of historic shipwrecks scattered throughout northern Lake Huron's sanctuary waters.
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Map with the location of Trinity Episcopal Church from Google Maps is here​.
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Photo: Casandra Sadler
February 2026 Saginaw River Marine Historical Society presentation...
FREE Program: "To Be Announced," by Mike Mishler, Lincat Photography
​Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Trinity Episcopal Church, 815 N. Grant St. (and Center Ave.), Bay City, Michigan
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Map with the location of Trinity Episcopal Church from Google Maps is here​.
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Photo of Mike Mishler, taken during his presentation for the SRMHS on April 9, 2022.
March 2026 Saginaw River Marine Historical Society presentation...
FREE Program: "To Be Announced," by Ric Mixter, Airworthy Productions
​Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Saginaw River Marine Historical Society Museum and Gift Shop (located near the center court fountain) in the Bay City Town Center (formerly known as Bay City Mall). Bay City Town Center address is 4101 E. Wilder Rd., Bay City, Michigan
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Map with the location of the Saginaw River Marine Historical Society Museum and Gift Shop in the Bay City Town Center (formerly known as Bay City Mall) is here.
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Photo of Ric Mixter, taken during his presentation for the SRMHS on April 19, 2025.
April 2026 Saginaw River Marine Historical Society presentation...
FREE Program: "To Be Announced," by Jan McMeans, SRMHS Member
​Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Trinity Episcopal Church, 815 N. Grant St. (and Center Ave.), Bay City, Michigan
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Map with the location of Trinity Episcopal Church from Google Maps is here​.
September 2026 Saginaw River Marine Historical Society presentation...
FREE Program: "To Be Announced," by Andrea Guerriero, Bill Kloss (Andrea's Cleveland Editor) and Jon Columbus (Andrea's Duluth/Superior Editor)
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Trinity Episcopal Church, 815 N. Grant St. (and Center Ave.), Bay City, Michigan
Andrea Guerriero's "DRE Designs - Great Lakes Marine Products" Facebook page has over 150,000 followers. LINK: https://www.facebook.com/DreDesignsGLMP.​​​
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Map with the location of Trinity Episcopal Church from Google Maps is here​.