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Maritime Museums

Maritime History On Lake Michigan

How did we get around to racing sailboats?

Ships plying the waters making deliveries of goods raced to make their money.  In their day, weather forecasts did not exist, there were no electronic navigation tools, and some were making their routes before lighthouses or other markers to find their way.  The bottom of Lake Michigan is littered with wrecks of this bygone era.

Today, few boats end up in Davy Jones' Locker with all of the navigational advances and boat building techniques, and making a living or making a fortune has turned into recreation, and fun competition.

If you're in the area, drop in on these museums to learn more about our nautical past -

Chicago Maritime Museum
Chicago, IL

Museum of Science and Industry (WWII German U-505 Submarine)
Chicago, IL

Grosse Point Lighthouse Museum
Evanston, IL

Great Lakes Naval Museum
Great Lakes, IL

Naval Air Station Glenview Museum
Glenview, IL

Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum
Mackinaw City, MI

Inland Seas Education Center
Suttons Bay, MI

Leelanau Historical Society
Leeland, MI

LST 393
Muskegon, MI

Grand Traverse Lighthouse
Northport, MI

Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Maritime Museum
Glen Haven, MI

Port of Ludington Maritime Museum
Ludington, MI

S.S. Spartan
Ludington, MI
S.S. Spartan Video  It's not really a museum, it is a sistership to the S.S. Badger that still is in operation.   S.S. Spartan launched in 1952, was no longer needed, and is mothballed, being used for spare parts for the S.S. Badger.

Michigan Maritime Museum
South Haven, MI

Seul Choix Lighthouse Museum - The Haunted Lighthouse
Manistique, MI

S. S. City of Milwaukee & USCGC Acacia
Manistee, MI

S. S. Milwaukee Clipper
Muskegon, MI

Great Lakes Naval Memorial & Museum & USS Silversides Submarine
Muskegon, MI

Discovery World
Milwaukee, WI

Lake Schooner S. V. Denis Sullivan
Milwaukee, WI

Door County Maritime Museum
Sturgeon Bay, WI

Gills Rock Museum
Ellison Bay, WI

Tug Ludington (participated in the D-Day Invasion of Normandy)
Kewaunee, WI

Wisconsin Maritime Museum & USS Cobia Submarine
Manitowoc, WI

Enjoy!

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