Michigan Maritime Museum spans vast shoreline

Experience the rich maritime heritage of the Great Lakes by visiting Michigan's most distinguished institution of maritime research, preservation and education.

Five separate buildings offer a variety of engaging opportunities for the Museum visitor including permanent and changing exhibits on Michigan maritime history, a center for the teaching of boat building and related maritime skills, and a regionally renowned research library. Waterfront festivals and events are complemented by the hustle and bustle of a modern harbor and vast sandy beaches in one of west Michigan's most picturesque shoreline communities.

The sloop Friends Good Will promotes tourism in West Michigan by providing the public with a wide variety of cultural and educational experiences. The historic replica is the only Tall Ship to sail the Great Lakes with a state-of-the-art, interactive, floating classroom designed for year-round instruction. Friends Good Will, fully U.S. Coast Guard approved for passengers, is available for day sails, as well as private charters.

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The Michigan Maritime Museum to Host Tall Ship Rendezvous

Royaliste will be one of four tall ships at the South Haven Tall Ship Rendezvous

The tall ships are headed to South Haven for a rendezvous, August 19-22. On returning from a festival in Green Bay, the Museum’s tall ship Friends Good Will will lead three visiting ships into the harbor for five days of maritime celebration and excitement. Historical reenactments and presentations have been scheduled for the event and dockside tours, lead by ships crews in appropriate period dress, will be conducted on each of the visiting ships. On Saturday, maritime musician Tom Murdock will be performing three concerts on the museum campus. Additional music is being planned for Sunday.

Visiting ships include:

La Revenante is a Canadian flagged Pinky Schooner, with fine lines and representative of so many smaller “boats” found primarily on the east coast, although not unknown on the Great Lakes. Such craft were merchant ships in times of peace and armed raiders and troop transports during all too frequent times of war. The name La Revenante is French, for “the ghost.”

Royaliste is from California and sports an unusual rig; a square topsail ketch. Her Ship’s Company reenact periods of maritime history from pirates, to the French and Indian War and War of 1812. She is well armed and will likely be seen and heard “smoking” near the pier head, quite possibly engaged in duels with Friends Good Will. Royaliste will add some good fun, a lighter perspective and still educate visitors about other aspects of our maritime past.

Madeline is a re-creation, built in Traverse City, MI, of an 1850’s style lumber schooner. She is owned and operated by volunteers and members of the Maritime Heritage Alliance. At one point, her namesake actually served as the first school in Grand Traverse County.

Friend’s Good Will, the flagship of the Michigan Maritime Museum, is a replica of a square top mast sloop of the same name that sailed and fought in the War of 1812. The only ship of the quartet licensed to take passengers onto Lake Michigan, the FGW will be available for some dockside tours, but will also be conducting special historical sails on Lake Michigan. Separate reservations can be made on the Museum’s web site or by calling 1-800-747-3810.

Admission to the rendezvous is $15 for adults and $8 for children 12 and under. All fees include dockside tours on the visiting ships, planned presentations and entrance to all of the Museum’s exhibits and attractions. Family memberships to the museum are available for $50 and include all of the Rendezvous attractions plus the benefits of membership include a 15% discount on all merchandise at the Museum Store.

Last year the Museum hosted two ships, Nina and Pinta (Santa Clara) and the weekend was a tremendous success. This year’s event is expected to attract even larger crowds and offer even more educational opportunities.