Michigan Maritime Museum

Description

The Michigan Maritime Museum is dedicated to the preservation of the history and culture of Michigan Great Lakes and waterways. The Museum provides a maritime education opportunity to the public. The Museum emphasizes historical and anthropological research and interpretation over the amassing of large artifact collections. However, the Museum has a practice of selective collections development as a vital source for research and interpretation. The educational programs of the Museum are directed toward Museum visitors, special groups, wooden boat builders, museum professionals, academics, student groups, public media, museum institutions and regional community members. The variety of programs include on-site exhibits, audio/visual and lecture presentations, on-site classes, museum and academic training opportunities. Publications, public media programming, waterfront festivals and special interest forums. The Museum occupies a site on the Black River Turning Basin in South Haven, Michigan, a small costal town on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. A 500 foot public boardwalk/dock and waterfront park provide an excellent setting for festivals and visiting watercraft such as government and private Great Lakes research vessels and Coast Guard cutters. The Museum is funded throught memberships, corporate and individual contributions, private and government grants, endowments, admissions and auxiliaary activities. It is governed by a 16 member Board of Trustees representing the geographic region and divers professions.