SS William A. Irvin is a well-maintained example of a classic laker, and a prime example of a straight decker, as she has no self-unloading system.

The ship was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 for her state-level significance in the themes of engineering, maritime history, and transportation.

Each year since 1994 during the Grandma's Marathon weekend, nearly 2,000 runners compete in the William A. Irvin 5K, which begins and ends at the iconic red hull of the ship.

[6] SS William A. Irvin was launched 21 November 1937 at the yards of the American Ship Building Company in Lorain, Ohio.

William A. Irvin was the first of a four-vessel class, including Governor Miller, John Hulst, and Ralph H. Watson; each costing about US$1.3 million.

William A. Irvin also hauled many company guests in the boat's exceptional luxury on behalf of US Steel.

William A. Irvin had one of the smallest capacities when she entered final layup in 1978 due to the addition of the fleet's first 1,000 feet (300 m) oreboat.

She was moved in September 2018 across the bay to Fraser Shipyards in Superior, Wisconsin while environmental work was done in the home slip.

[citation needed] William A Irvin was one of few lakers built with a three-tiered bow cabin, as opposed to the standard two.

Apollo merged with the American Sheet and Tin Plate Company, and by 1904 Irvin was the assistant to the Vice President.

Empty, William A Irvin would steam at 12.5 mph (10.9 kn; 20.1 km/h), making her the slowest ship in the entire fleet.

Ships were created during that period which could sail at 20 mph (17 kn; 32 km/h), but were scrapped or repowered immediately due to the high coal consumption.)

The Chadburn receives signals from the pilothouse, which instructs the engineers below how fast the propeller needs to turn.