Michigan Maritime Museum

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10/17/2026

The Michigan Maritime Museum is proud to announce that Working the Water: Commercial Fishing on Lake Michigan has received the Michigan Historical Society’s Educational Program of the Year Award.

The award honors an exhibit or program that demonstrates outstanding quality, educational value, research, design, and community engagement. Working the Water was recognized for the way it brings Michigan’s commercial fishing heritage to life and creates meaningful connections between visitors and the people, industries, and traditions that helped shape life along the Great Lakes.

We are incredibly honored to see this work recognized at the state level and deeply grateful to everyone who helped make the exhibit possible. Congratulations to the staff of the Michigan Maritime Museum, with special thanks to the Harris Family for their sponsorship of the Harris Commercial Fishing Building, Cottage Home for their construction support, and Do It Corporation for their production support.

We invite you to come see this award-winning exhibit for yourself located in the Harris Commercial Fishing Building.

10/16/2026

Join us next week. Oct. 22nd from 5pm-7pm for our annual Halloween Spooktacular!
This event is completely FREE—and families can also enjoy a little exploration inside the Museum! Put on your costumes and come down for a Spooktacular evening of discovery and fun. This event is rain or shine, in the case of poor weather the celebration continues inside our Mike and Linda Winkel & Mike and Sue Smith Maritime Heritage Center.

10/13/2026

Due to lower-than-anticipated bookings, we have made the difficult decision to postpone our Adult Pirate Camp until 2027.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or disappointment this may cause and appreciate your understanding.

Full refunds have been issued to all guests who purchased tickets. Those guests have also been contacted directly. We will share the new date and additional details as soon as they are confirmed.

Thank you for your continued support of the Michigan Maritime Museum. We look forward to welcoming you aboard for a fantastic pirate adventure next year!

10/11/2026

Today, October 11th, is the last day to purchase Adult Pirate Camp tickets!

This adults-only event will feature creepy-crawly friends, a costume contest, tarot readings, and more!
Tickets are $40 for members and $49 for non-members. Each guest will receive two cocktails or mocktails with their tickets.

21+ only, costumes strongly encouraged!

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit our website: https://michiganmaritimemuseum.org/event/adult-halloween-camp/

10/07/2026

Join us tonight at 6:30pm as Cecil Wilson Jr., historian for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, explores the historical and contemporary connections between mnomen and the Pokagon people. A hands-on display will accompany the talk and recreate a traditional wild rice camp to demonstrate the methods used to harvest this vital food.

Tickets are free for Museum members and $10 for non-members. Doors open at 6 PM. You can purchase tickets for this event online, over the phone, or in-person.

This lecture series is made possible thanks to the Nielsen-Wells Grant Fund and Mike & Sue Smith.
The virtual viewing is made possible thanks to Steve & Emily Holt.

For tickets and information, please visit our website: https://michiganmaritimemuseum.org/event/mmm-lecture-series-where-the-food-grows-on-the-water/

10/06/2026

Join us for Adult Pirate Camp at the MMM!
Purchase tickets here: https://michiganmaritimemuseum.org/event/adult-halloween-camp/

09/24/2026

We’re going LIVE from the Michigan Maritime Museum!
Tonight’s sold-out crowd is here for Dianna Stampfler’s presentation, “Death & Lighthouses,” exploring the darker stories, tragedies, and fascinating history connected to Great Lakes lighthouses.
Couldn’t join us in person? Tune in and watch along with us live with a virtual pass! Learn more at michiganmaritimemuseum.org

09/23/2026

This crispy Fall air is making us feel a little spooky! Join us tomorrow night for our September lecture, "Death & Lighthouses on the Great Lakes" with Dianna Stampfler.

This lecture can be viewed in-person or virtually.
Tickets are free for Museum members and $10 for non-members.

This lecture series is made possible thanks to the Nielsen-Wells Grant Fund and Mike & Sue Smith.
The virtual viewing is made possible thanks to Steve & Emily Holt.

More information can be found on our website: https://michiganmaritimemuseum.org/event/mmm-lecture-series-death-and-lighthouses-on-the-great-lakes/

09/09/2026

Join us TONIGHT at 6:30pm for the final installment of the "From Forest to Shore: Stories of Lake Michigan's Land and Lakes" series. Kalamazoo Nature Center's own, Ezra Montero, will take us back in time to investigate the ancient history that shaped our Great Lakes.

Tickets are free for Michigan Maritime Museum members and Kalamazoo Nature Center members. $10 for non-members.
This event will be hosted at the Michigan Maritime Museum and tickets will be sold at the door.

09/08/2026

We LOVE water safety at the Michigan Maritime Museum, and this time we’re helping make a splash in a very literal way. ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT BEACH SAFETY VIA VISIT SOUTH HAVEN.

South Haven’s own — and one of the Museum’s dearest friends — Ruth Wiser is going in the dunk tank!

As part of BEST BEACH DAY on Friday, September 11, Ruth is one of the familiar South Haven faces volunteering for “Dunk a Local,” with proceeds supporting South Haven’s beach safety initiatives.

Ruth has spent years helping keep the Michigan Maritime Museum — and South Haven — afloat. She is a longtime Museum supporter and former trustee, co-founder of our FREE Fun Fest, and the namesake behind both the Ruth Wiser Innovation Portal and the Ruth Wiser Plastic Boat Regatta.

Now, in the name of water safety, it’s finally time to sink her.

The highest bidder gets the honor of sending Ruth straight into the tank.

Online bidding closes Wednesday, September 9 at 8:00 PM.
BEST BEACH DAY: Friday, September 11, 4:00–7:00 PM

Bid to Dunk Ruth:
https://www.32auctions.com/bestbeach2026

Event Information:
https://www.facebook.com/events/952510761225318/?active_tab=about

Come support beach safety, celebrate South Haven’s Best Beach in Michigan designation, and help us give Ruth the soaking she so richly deserves.

Address

260 Dyckman Avenue
South Haven, MI
49090

Telephone

(269) 637-8078

Website

http://www.michiganmaritimemuseum.org/

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