Aug 4, 2010

Taking ship décor to shoreBy Allison ThompsonSheboyganPress.com

One million years ago, glaciers covered this region. Up to 6,500 feet thick, they carved out the earth, finally withdrawing 10,000 years ago leaving us with the Great Lakes.

Our own Lake Michigan has hosted ships transporting everything from coal and flour to lumber and furniture, providing a source of life for residents of Sheboygan and Manitowoc counties for more than a century, as well as serving as a hub for fishing and recreational activities.

For those living along the lakeshore, you can’t help but get caught up in the nautical history and wonderment. Many have rooms bedecked in nautical decor, reflecting a lifestyle of leisure, fishing and discovery.

“With all of the condos popping up around here, people who have just moved in like to come here (to shop),” said Mary Christian of the Map & Globe Exchange in Sheboygan.

Located on the Sheboygan River, just feet away from Lake Michigan, the Map & Globe Exchange offers the ultimate in nautical replicas from ancient charts ($139 and up) and globes to captain’s hats ($34.95) and trans-Atlantic deck chairs ($399).

Map & Globe Exchange sales associate Ann Turner has several favorite items, but one she never tires of is a wind chime that, when rung, sounds like the bell on an old ship.

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