Rouse Simmons

3D ModelNoAI

The Christmas Tree Ship, schooner Rouse Simmons, was built in 1868 and memorialized in numerous books and stories of maritime history. The 123 ft schooner carried Christmas Trees from Wisconsin to Chicago for years, selling them at the waterfront from the deck of the holiday decorated vessel. It was named after the company’s major financial backer from the Simmons family, a manufacturing power in Kenosha, Wis., and founder of the well-known Simmons Mattress Co. In 1912 the kind-hearted Captain Herman Schuenemann invited several lumberjacks to join them on the voyage home to Chicago for the holiday, but the journey ended when the aging ship was caught in a terrible storm and sank 12 miles northeast of Two Rivers, WI. All sixteen of her crew and passengers vanished along with the ship. The ship was discovered in 165 ft of water by well-known shipwreck hunter Kent Bellrichard. Today it is a popular dive site. The model was created from 6,445 frames from GoPro video shot by Zac Whitrock in the 2022 season.