Law of Archimedes and have fun seeing how much water is displaced by the weight of a toy boat. The Museum's more complex programs have included an annual day on a Great Lakes research vessel for high school seniors with an interest in marine biology. Taking sediment and other samples and studying them under microscopes gives students first hand experience and thought for possible careers. Other research boat tours have been given to school classes. Teacher workshops are conducted by university research sc ienti sts prior to these tours. The Work Boat Rally , a gathering of Great Lakes working boats, enlightens the public about the many jobs performed by such boats and their crews on the lakes today . Learning to build wooden boats; paddling fur-tradingsized "grand" canoes; making a dugout canoe; viewing classic wooden boats in waterfront events; touring visiting research boats and historic sailing boats; hearing the saga of around-the-world solo sailboat races; building a $69 boat; and learning to clean, preserve, cook and eat Great Lakes fish are activities which give participants insights into the maritime world of the past and present. One of the most popular Maritime Museum programs was the study of a I 9th-century shipwreck of the 106-foot, two-masted schooner Rockaway, 65-feet down in Lake Michigan 's waters off South Haven. This project was the first full-scale study of a shipwreck site in the Great Lakes. In addition to an artifact research collection, the project resulted in a traveling exhibit seen by nearly 500,000 viewers (and still available for a modest rental) , a manual of conservation procedures for artifacts from fresh water environments, exhibitions at the Michigan Maritime Museum and the Michigan Historical Center, and a video documentary. The final report will be published in 1997 by the Michigan Historical Center as a popular text and will be available from the Center and the Maritime Museum. Collaboration is a byword at the Michigan Maritime Museum. At present, the South Haven Flotilla of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary meets monthly at the Museum. TheMuseum 's directorofeducation is an auxiliary member and liaison to the Museum. Auxiliarists aid the Coast Guard in teaching and promoting public recreational boating safety, and they help the Museum maintain the Life SEA HISTORY 77, SPRING 1996
Above, a boathouse, designed in the manner of early Great Lakes Life Saving Service stations.features a US Coast Guard exhibit including the 36-foot motor lifeboat (at left) and a restored26-foot motor surfboat shown here. Below , items inthe Marialyce Canonie Great Lakes Research Librmy. (Photo: Wayne Dennis)
Saving Service/Coast Guard exhibit. The Museum sponsors an active Sea Explorer Ship, teaching small boat building and handling skills, maritime stewardship, citizenship and self confidence. Explorers work closely with members of the Southwest Michigan Chapter, Traditional Small Craft Association. The adult/ youth mentoring program is mutually beneficial and furthers the Museum's mission to provide an educational opportunity to the public. The Southwest Michigan Preserve Group meets¡ regularly at the Maritime Museum. The group exists to explore underwater cultural resources along the southwestern Lake Michigan shore. Based on the findings, the Group is applying to the State of Michigan forthe
es ta bl ishment of an underwater preserve (like an underwater public park), the tenth in the state. The Museum curator works closely with the Preserve Group. The Michigan Maritime Museum is open year round, Wednesday through Sunday, lOAM to 5PM. Call for Monday and Tuesday hours. There is a nominal admission fee. For more information, contact the Museum at Dyckman Avenue at the Bridge, PO Box 534, South HavenMl49090; 1800747-3810,FAX: 616 637-1594. ,t
Dorris Akers, director of the Michigan Maritime Museum for 14 years, now serves as director of education. She is also president of the Association for Great Lakes Maritime History. 23