The Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winonna, MN is a wonderful addition to our community. Recently, the Education Director asked if I could come up with a display that would use the wheel from a decommisioned local tug, “The Caw”, and be something that children could play with and use their imaginations. 

I decided that it needed the addition of a ship’s telegraph to make it complete. The telegraph was constructed, using a portion of a steel coffee can and some nice quarter sawn oak I had on hand. Inside the telegraph is a squirrel cage with a bell that tinkles softly as the handle is rotated. The graphics are “borrowed” from an internet source. Everything is finished with spar varnish.

The whole unit will be displayed with a river or ocean scene on the wall, so the kids can pilot thier craft to safe harbor.

Launch Gallery