Bringing History to Life
South Haven’s Michigan Maritime Museum reopens with an expanded exhibit space, keeping Great Lakes maritime history alive. he Great Lakes have played a significant role in American maritime history by providing passage to the Midwest, food supplied by commercial fishing, timber that rebuilt Chicago after the Great Fire, and much more. For those interested, one of the very best places to learn about Great Lakes maritime history is at the Michigan Maritime Museum in the lakeshore town of South Haven, Michigan. Located at the mouth of the Black River on Lake Michigan’s eastern shoreline, the town of South Haven roars to life each summer as one of the top vacation destinations for visitors from across the Midwest. Overlooking South Haven’s main harbor, the Michigan Maritime Museum offers visitors a wealth of information about Great Lakes maritime history through immersive exhibits, art, marine artifacts and more. Past exhibits have featured everything from early U.S. Coast Guard rescue activities to the area’s contributions to World War II, when luxury passenger ships were converted into aircraft carriers and used to train Navy pilots.
By Chuck Warren
(Top) Aerial photo of the South Haven harbor looking west (circa 1950-1960) and future home of the Maritime Museum, which would be built in the lower right corner. (Bottom) Commercial fish tug at Jensen’s Fishery in South Haven harbor circa 1960-1970
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JANUARY 2023
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LAKELANDBOATING.COM
Full steam ahead
Although one of West Michigan’s most popular attractions, the museum did not have the room needed to display much of its collected artworks, artifacts and exhibits until the launch of a recent campaign aimed at expanding and refreshing the campus. The successful campaign drove the museum’s growth from just under 5,000 to 19,000 square feet of indoor space. The museum also grew its outdoor footprint with the addition of adjacent waterfront property providing room for even more exhibits and attractions. With its official launch in August 2022, the museum’s main hall opened with a new exhibit titled “Full Steam Ahead: The Golden Age of Great Lakes Passenger Steamships.” As sail gave way to steam power, the huge steamships ferried passengers and cargo between Midwest ports on Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie and beyond. The immersive display presents the age of steam-powered vessels on the Great Lakes in the early 1800s, giving visitors a glimpse of the luxury accommodations for passengers, as well as a crewmember’s challenging life aboard the hulking vessels. Before the expansion, the museum did not have enough room to display
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF MICHIGAN MARITIME MUSEUM UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
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