The pictures below show larger front and back views of this 1959 St. Lawrence Seaway Opening Ceramic or Porcelain First Edition Commemorative Plate. The plate is not dated but the seaway was opened in 1959. The white plate is imprinted with what is probably a United States Navy Destroyer ship in the seaway, an eagle for America, a maple leaf for Canada, American and British hands shaking, plant leaves, and berries. It has a scalloped edge, and it is marked on the two sides as follows: OPENING OF THE ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY COLLECTORS ITEM FIRST EDITION This Historic commemorative plate measures about 10-1/4'' wide. It appears to be in mint condition as pictured. Below here, for reference is some additional information: Saint Lawrence Seaway From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Specifications Length: 370 miles (600 km) Maximum boat length: 740 feet (225.6 m) Maximum boat beam: 78 feet (23.8 m) Locks: 15 Maximum height above sea level: 570 feet (170 m) Status: Open History Construction began: 1954 Date of first use: April 25 Date completed: 1959 Geography Start point: Port Colborne, Ontario End point: Montreal, Quebec The Saint Lawrence Seaway (French: la Voie Maritime du Saint-Laurent) is the common name for a system of locks, canals and channels that permit ocean going vessels to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, as far inland as the western end of Lake Superior. The Seaway is named for the Saint Lawrence River, which flows from Lake Ontario to the Atlantic Ocean. Legally, the Seaway extends from Montreal, Quebec, to Lake Erie and includes the Welland Canal. This section upstream of the Seaway is not a continuous canal; rather, it consists of several stretches of navigable channels within the river, a number of locks, and canals along the banks of the St. Lawrence River to bypass several rapids and dams along the way. A number of the locks are managed by the Canadian Saint Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, and others are managed by the American Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, which together advertise the Seaway as part of “Highway H2O”. The section of the river downstream of Montreal, which is fully within Canadian jurisdiction, is regulated by the offices of Transport Canada in the Port of Quebec. |