MARQUETTE MARITIME MUSEUM
Programs
Marquette Maritime Museum Programs
MARQUETTE MARITIME MUSEUM: THE MUSEUM OPERATES FOR PUBLIC VISITATION 6 DAYS A WEEK FROM MID-MAY TO MID-OCTOBER. DURING THE PERIOD THAT THE MUSEUM IS CLOSED, THE BOARD, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS ARE ENGAGED IN UPDATING AND CREATING NEW EXHIBITS FOR THE COMING SEASON. PRESENT EXHIBITS INCLUDE: 3 FRESNEL LIGHTHOUSE LENSES, THE BEST COLLECTION IN THE GREAT LAKES. ADDITIONAL EXHIBITS CONSIST OF THE LONG MISSING FREIGHTER HENRY B. SMITH AND LEGENDARY EDMUND FITZGERALD, U.S. LIFE-SAVING SERVICE AND EARLY COAST GUARD, HISTORIC GREAT LAKES PASSENGER SHIPS, HISTORY OF IRON ORE SHIPPING FROM MARQUETTE INCLUDING OPERATIONS TODAY, AREA LIGHT HISTORY, AND MARINE ENGINE DEVELOPMENT. EXHIBITS ARE CONSTANTLY UPDATED WITH VIDEO MONITORS TO ENHANCE THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE. WHILE THE MUSEUM IS SELF-GUIDED; DOCENT TOURS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. THE MUSEUM OPERATED IN 2022 WITH SEVEN PAID EMPLOYEES SUPPLEMENTED BY VOLUNTEERS GIVING VARIOUS TOURS. MUSEUM-SPONSORED SCHOOL VISITS BROUGHT ABOUT 1,000 STUDENTS VISIT THE MUSEUM AND MARQUETTE HARBOR LIGHTHOUSE, MANY WITH ORGANIZED SCHOOL CLASSES AND OTHERS INDEPENDENTLY. WE ADDED A NEW IN-CLASS FIELD TRIP PROGRAM IN 2022 WHERE A VOLUNTEER VISITS CLASSROOMS TO PRESENT ON COAST GUARD HISTORY. SCHOOL STUDENTS (GROUPS) ARE ADMITTED FREE TO THE MUSEUM. THE MUSEUM CONTINUES TO WORK TO PRESERVE AND TELL THE STORY OF THE 156-YEAR OLD MARQUETTE HARBOR LIGHTHOUSE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE ICONIC STRUCTURE IS ONE OF THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED LIGHTHOUSES IN THE GREAT LAKES AND FOR MANY, SYMBOLIC OF MARQUETTE. THE MUSEUM CONDUCTS THREE DAILY TOURS TO THE LIGHTHOUSE AND SURROUNDING PENINSULA. OUR GUIDES ARE WELL TRAINED IN THE HISTORY OF THE LIGHT AND KEY ANCILLARY ACTIVITIES SUCH AS THE LIFE-SAVING SERVICE STATION, COAST GUARD, LAKE SUPERIOR, SHIPPING IN THE AREA, ETC. THERE ARE EIGHT ESTABLISHED EXHIBIT AREAS IN THE LIGHTHOUSE WITH DISPLAYS FOCUSING ON AREA MARITIME ACTIVITIES. THE HISTORIC STANNARD ROCK LIGHTHOUSE BOATHOUSE IS CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED AS AN EXHIBIT/PERFORMANCE AREA. LIGHTHOUSE PARK, WHICH INCLUDES THE MARQUETTE HARBOR LIGHTHOUSE, IS A SEVEN-ACRE TRACT TRANSFERRED FROM THE COAST GUARD IN 2016 TO THE CITY OF MARQUETTE, AND THE MUSEUM CONDUCTS TOURS AND OPERATES THE LIGHTHOUSE MUSEUM UNDER AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY. MCCLINTOCK ANNEX (DARTER-DACE MEMORIAL): THE PROJECT IS NAMED AFTER CAPTAIN DAVID MCCLINTOCK, A MARQUETTE NATIVE AND GRADUATE OF THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY. DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF, THE LARGEST NAVAL ACTION IN HISTORY AND A PIVOTAL POINT IN THE PACIFIC WAR, THE SUBMARINE U.S.S. DARTER AND U.S.S. DACE PLAYED A KEY ROLE. CAPTAIN MCCLINTOCK COMMANDED DARTER. THIS UNIQUE EXHIBIT INVOLVES TWO SEPARATE FOCUS AREAS. THE FIRST IS THE RECREATION OF A FULL SIZE REPLICA OF THE DARTER CONNING TOWER AS A MEMORIAL TO THE CREW AND THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENT. THE REPLICA IS LOCATED IN NEARBY MATTSON PARK. THE SECOND IS A SPECIALLY BUILT ANNEX TO THE MUSEUM INTERPRETING THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY DARTER AND DACE TO THE FINAL VICTORY IN THE PACIFIC. FOR A PERIOD DARTER AND HER FLEET-MATE DACE OPERATED AS A TWO SUBMARINE WOLFPACK. THE ANNEX CONTAINS MANY ITEMS RELATING TO THE BATTLE, INCLUDING A WORKING SUBMARINE PERISCOPE, COMPUTER CONTROLLED BATTLE DIORAMA AND VARIOUS ARTIFACTS FROM THE SUBMARINES AND THEIR CREWS. CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES: THE MUSEUM CONTINUES TO COLLABORATE WITH LIBERTY CHILDREN'S ART PROJECT ON FREE ART/HISTORY WORKSHOPS FOR KIDS. ONE CONTINUING WORKSHOP IS PLEIN AIR PAINTING OFFERED EVERY JUNE AS A FREE ACTIVITY DURING THE CITY OF MARQUETTE'S ART WEEK. IN 2022, WITH A CONTINUING GRANT FROM THE MARQUETTE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, THE MUSEUM UPDATED THE CHILDREN'S EXPERIENCE WITH NEW TRUNK ACTIVITIES,SCAVENGER HUNTS FOR SPECIFIC AGE GROUPS, CURRICULUM PACKETS FOR SCHOOL GROUPS, AND A NEW CHILDREN'S AREA WITH SAILBOAT-SHAPED CRAFT TABLE. THE MUSEUM ALSO REVISED AND REISSUED THE BOOK MARQUETTE SHIPWRECKS AS AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE FOR AREA SCHOOLS. SPECIAL EVENTS: THE MUSEUM HOSTS ITS ANNUAL FUNDRASIER, "GHOSTS OF LIGHTHOUSE POINT" OVER THREE DAYS IN OCTOBER. DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, MARITIME HISTORY ON TAP, A LECTURE SERIES ON A VARIETY OF MARITIME TOPICS, IS HELD MONTHLY AT THE ORE DOCK BREWING COMPANY. IN 2022 THE MUSEUM INCLUDED SEVERAL PLANNED SPECIAL EVENTS, INCLUDING HOSTING LAKE SUPERIOR DAY IN JULY AND THE MICHIGAN LIGHTHOUSE FESTIVAL IN AUGUST. SPECIAL SUNRISE, EVENING, AND PARANORMAL LIGHTHOUSE TOURS ARE OFFERED THORUGHOUT THE SUMMER. ALL EVENTS ARE WELL COVERED BY THE LOCAL PRINT, TV, AND SOCIAL MEDIA SPREADING THE MARITIME MESSAGE EVEN FURTHER.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$91.9K
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