Shortly before 9 a.m. on Aug. 7, 2012, the decommissioned destroyer, led by the tugboat Colonel, puttered
up the river toward the Wirt Stone Dock in Essexville where she would stay moored for the next nine months
before moving to her permanent location near the Independence Bridge at 1680 Martin St., in Bangor Township.

Led by Mike Kegley, the president of the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum, a team of community
leaders worked diligently for 15 years to bring the USS EDSON to the Saginaw Bay Region.

Today, the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum serves as a international destination of excellence
for the preservation and education of current and future generations about America's history,
traditions, and values.

It has become a must-see museum in the Saginaw Bay Region and is listed as the #1 local tourist
destination on Trip Advisor.