Queen Elizabeth II 'visited' Milwaukee in 1959 when her royal yacht brought her within city limits on Lake Michigan

Chris Foran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Queen Elizabeth II, who died Thursday at age 96 after 70 years as Britain's monarch, never visited Milwaukee.

But she did do a drive-by. Make that a sail-by.

In June 1959, Queen Elizabeth came to North America to join U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower in ceremonies formally opening the St. Lawrence Seaway, the massive project linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes — with the royal yacht, the Britannia, sailing through, accompanied by several destroyers.

The queen and her husband, Prince Philip, then embarked on a 15,000-mile, 45-day tour of Canada and the Great Lakes, including Lake Michigan.

The only royal visit on U.S. soil during the tour was a stop in Chicago, on July 6, 1959. But Milwaukee did its best to get in on the action.

A Marine Corps band plays as Britain's Queen Elizabeth rides near the entrance to Chicago's International Trade Fair on July 6, 1959. The fair was one of several stops the British monarch made that day; at a reception with Midwestern governors and mayors later that day, the queen and Prince Philip met Milwaukee Mayor Frank Zeidler.
A Marine Corps band plays as Britain's Queen Elizabeth rides near the entrance to Chicago's International Trade Fair on July 6, 1959. The fair was one of several stops the British monarch made that day; at a reception with Midwestern governors and mayors later that day, the queen and Prince Philip met Milwaukee Mayor Frank Zeidler.

Not that the royals needed any reminder of what Milwaukee was about.

At a reception with Midwestern governors and mayors in Chicago July 6, Milwaukee Mayor Frank Zeidler and his wife, Agnes, met the queen and Prince Philip, and invited the royal couple to visit Milwaukee, The Milwaukee Journal reported.

"Where did you say you were from?" Philip asked the mayor.

"Milwaukee," Zeidler replied.

"Ah, that's where they make the beer," the prince said.

The royal visit to Chicago lasted 14 hours, a whirlwind that included a stop at Navy Pier for the International Trade Show, a motorcade ride through the city, a visit to the Museum of Science & Industry and several big receptions. According to the Chicago Tribune, the royal entourage was back on the Britannia by 12:50 a.m.

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The next morning, the Britannia and its floating entourage set sail for Canada, with plans for a nautical version of an air kiss for Milwaukee along the way. The ship's route took it about one mile off the breakwater off Milwaukee's outer harbor.

That was good enough for Milwaukee, apparently. The city had already scheduled a week of events celebrating the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway — expected to be a boon for Milwaukee's shippers and manufacturers, as well as the growing Port of Milwaukee — so the royal "sail-by" was added to the program.

Even though the Britannia was scheduled to pass by the city at 8:30 a.m. on July 7, 1959, thousands of people turned out for the royal sort-of visit.

Passengers line the decks of the Milwaukee Clipper to get a view of Queen Elizabeth's yacht, the Britannia, when it sailed past Milwaukee on a trip across Lake Michigan on July 7, 1959.
Passengers line the decks of the Milwaukee Clipper to get a view of Queen Elizabeth's yacht, the Britannia, when it sailed past Milwaukee on a trip across Lake Michigan on July 7, 1959.

Scores of people boarded the Milwaukee Clipper, a Great Lakes ferry, to try to get a closer look at the queen and her entourage. People watched from their cars on Jones Island, The Journal reported in a front-page story that day, and from benches in Juneau and Lincoln parks.

One boy, watching from a bluff in Lake Park, told his older sister, "Look, there's the queen's ship coming out of the trees."

Framed in the trees along the bluff on North Wahl Avenue, the British royal yacht Britannia passed in view of spectators seated on a park bench in Milwaukee's Lake Park on July 7, 1959. Queen Elizabeth reportedly missed the view; she was sleeping.
Framed in the trees along the bluff on North Wahl Avenue, the British royal yacht Britannia passed in view of spectators seated on a park bench in Milwaukee's Lake Park on July 7, 1959. Queen Elizabeth reportedly missed the view; she was sleeping.

The Milwaukee Sentinel reported that a bus, with its driver trying to get a glimpse of the yacht, was driving slowly along the lake route. When passengers questioned his speed, the driver replied: "What if you are a little late for work? You're looking at history!"

An estimated 60 boats escorted the Britannia along the run past Milwaukee. Harbor Escort, the city's harbor launch, traveled along as far as St. Mary's Hospital, then blasted an air-horn salute.

Small boats trail the Britannia, carrying Britain's Queen Elizabeth, past Milwaukee on July 7, 1959. The fireboat Deluge was engulfed in its own spray when it saluted the queen with a watery display. Sixty small craft sailed out to greet the royal yacht.
Small boats trail the Britannia, carrying Britain's Queen Elizabeth, past Milwaukee on July 7, 1959. The fireboat Deluge was engulfed in its own spray when it saluted the queen with a watery display. Sixty small craft sailed out to greet the royal yacht.

The Journal noted that, technically, Elizabeth and Philip were within Milwaukee city limits for about 45 minutes.

While onlookers hoped to see the royals, it was unlikely. Sir Harold Caccia, Britain's ambassador to the United States, told The Journal that Queen Elizabeth was asleep, worn out from all the doings in Chicago the day before. (The queen might have had another reason for needing her rest. Although it hadn't been announced yet, she was pregnant; Prince Andrew, her third child, would be born seven months later.) 

Queen Elizabeth's royal yacht the Britannia sails up Lake Michigan on July 7, 1959. Sixty smaller boats, led by the harbor commissioner launch Harbor Escort and the fireboat Deluge, sailed along in salute. Thousands of Milwaukeeans came out to see the spectacle.
Queen Elizabeth's royal yacht the Britannia sails up Lake Michigan on July 7, 1959. Sixty smaller boats, led by the harbor commissioner launch Harbor Escort and the fireboat Deluge, sailed along in salute. Thousands of Milwaukeeans came out to see the spectacle.

Despite the once-removed nature of the royal "visit," Elizabeth and Philip sent a message of thanks to Milwaukee for the reception.

"Queen and Duke of Edinburgh much appreciate the cordial greetings sent to them this morning on behalf of the citizens of Milwaukee," read the message sent from the Britannia to Milwaukee's City Hall. "Please convey the sincere thanks of her majesty and his royal highness to them."

Contact Chris Foran at chris.foran@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cforan12. 

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Queen Elizabeth II visited Milwaukee as royal yacht sailed by in 1959