The Michigan Maritime Museum is a complex in downtown South Haven, right on the harbor, that focuses on preserving the maritime history of the great lakes. They have exhibits ranging from old canoes and motors to coast guard boats to artwork. The museum even has a workshop where locals get together to build old-fashioned wooden canoes by hand.
The largest, and most interesting attraction that the museum offers for visitors is it’s tall ship, Friends Good Will. The ship is a replica boat modeled after an actual boat that first sailed in 1811. It is a magnificent sight to behold in the South Haven harbor, it just looks surreal, a tall, sailed, wooden ship sailing in between all of the new speedboats and seadoos. The ship sails several times every day and tickets can be purchased at the museum. I suggest a sunset sail if it is a clear day.
I visited the museum for the first time ever a few weeks ago. It truly does have some great exhibits. Some of my favorites were the birch bark canoe, the tugboat that is docked on land and can be explored, and the Coast Guard Exhibit. Inside the Coast Guard Exhibit there were a few boats but what intrigued me the most was a small cannon that was used to fire lines from a rescue boat to another boat that was in distress. It was very interesting. As I wandered from building to building for an hour or so, I had the privileges of watching Friends Good Will get ready and sail out for one of her daily sails in Lake Michigan.
The Michigan Maritime Museum hours are:
Memorial Day – Labor Day
Monday – Saturday 10am – 5pm
Sunday 12pm – 5pm
Labor Day – Memorial Day
Friday – Sunday 10am – 5 pm
Tickets are $5 for adults and $3.50 for children. The museum is located at 260 Dyckman Avenue at the bridge on the Black River Waterfront.
