Maritime Museum News

Website Contact the organization

Maritime Museum News Maritime Museum News is a publication of the
Association for Great Lakes Maritime History

This page seeks to provide professionals with a global perspective on maritime heritage preservation and interpretation, along with insights into best management practices for museums, trends in tourism and cultural resource management, and personnel-related news and information.

On Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, the Door County Maritime Museum & Lighthouse Preservation Society Inc. will host a free, hyb...
10/02/2026

On Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, the Door County Maritime Museum & Lighthouse Preservation Society Inc. will host a free, hybrid presentation entitled “Great Lakes’ Influence on the Cold War” by Kevin Osgood, president of the non-profit group.

The program begins at 7:00 p.m. CT. It will be presented in person at the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. and on-line on the Zoom platform. Admission is free, but participants are asked to bring a nonperishable food item for donation to a food pantry.

On-line participants are asked to make a donation to a food pantry in their local community. For more details or to register for the Zoom version, click on the link below.

https://dcmm.org/seaperch/maritime-speaker-series/

The upcoming event is part of the Maritime Museum’s 2026-2027 Maritime Speakers Series, which is presented in partnership with the Door County Medical Center. Presentations are offered on the first Thursday of the month from October through April

Image: The U.S.S Edson (DD-946), which is now a museum ship in Bay City, Mich. is of the same class of destroyers built in the 1950s during the early years of the Cold War by the Defoe Shipbuilding Co. in Bay City (Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command).

On Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, the Wisconsin Historical Society and Wisconsin Sea Grant’s Wisconsin Water Library will co-h...
10/02/2026

On Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, the Wisconsin Historical Society and Wisconsin Sea Grant’s Wisconsin Water Library will co-host an on-line presentation on Great Lakes maritime history and how it fueled economic growth in Wisconsin and the Midwest.

The program will be presented by Kendra Kennedy, a Historical Society maritime archaeologist. It begins at 7:00 p.m. CT and will take place on the Zoom platform. For more details or to register for the event, click on the link below.

https://waterlibrary.wisc.edu/services/book-clubs/dive-into-history/

The presentation is also the launch of the new “Dive Into History” book club focused on the maritime history and shipwrecks of the Great Lakes region. The club will feature works by regional authors and programs on shipwreck archaeology and historical research.

Anne Moser, Sea Grant’s education coordinator and librarian, and Risa Stiegler, a library assistant and graduate student at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, are co-facilitating the group, which will meet four times a year, twice in the fall and twice in the spring.

Image Source: Wisconsin Historical Society

The Wisconsin Historical Society recently announced its nomination of the shipwreck of the schooner Frank D. Barker for ...
09/28/2026

The Wisconsin Historical Society recently announced its nomination of the shipwreck of the schooner Frank D. Barker for inclusion in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The wreck is located in the waters of Lake Michigan off Door County, Wis.

Fist located by a local rafting business, the wooden schooner was identified by Historical Society maritime archaeologists and divers as the Barker in 2025. It is the state’s 100th shipwreck to be nominated for inclusion in the National Register.

Launched in 1867, the Barker was built in Clayton, N.Y. The two-masted, 137-foot vessel was designed to transport grain from Milwaukee, Wis. and Chicago, Ill. to ports on Lakes Erie and Ontario. Because of its size, the vessel was able to transit the Welland Canal.

On its return voyages, the ship transported coal to ports on Lake Michigan. The vessel was lost in 1887 when it encountered foggy condition while enroute from Manistee to Escanaba, Mich. to load a cargo of iron ore.

The Barker ran into a limestone outcropping and ended up stranded on Spider Island, just off what is now Newport State Park. Several attempts to salvage the vessel were unsuccessful. Its wreck now lies in 24 feet of water on what became known as Barker Shoal

Information Source:
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2025/08/22/door-county-man-finds-wooden-schooner-lost-138-years-in-lake-michigan/85776085007/

Image: The Frank D. Barker may have been similar in appearance to this example of a 19th century, two-masted, gaff-rigged Great Lakes schooner (Source: Noble Odyssey Foundation).

Great Lakes musical artist Lee Murdock has announced his performance schedule through late November 2026:Saturday, Oct. ...
09/26/2026

Great Lakes musical artist Lee Murdock has announced his performance schedule through late November 2026:

Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026 at the Indiana Dunes State Park near Chesterton, Ind. The free performance begins at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2026 at Alto Library Branch Library in Alto, Mich. The free “Great Lakes Ghosts” performance begins at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026 at Berkeley Public Library in Berkeley, Ill. The free “Great Lakes Ghosts” performance begins at 2:00 p.m. CT. To RSVP, click on the link below.

https://www.berkeleypl.org/event-details/great-lakes-ghosts

Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026 at the Tinley Park Performing Arts Center in Tinley Park, Ill. The 75-minute “Ballads of the Great Lakes” concert begins at 7:00 p.m. CT. Admission is $15 per person. To purchase tickets, click on the link below.

https://tinleyparkdistrict.org/event/ballads-of-the-great-lakes/

Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026 at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit, Mich. for two daytime performances during the museum’s annual “Lost Mariners Remembrance” event. More details to be announced.

Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026, at the Sycamore Public Library in Sycamore, Ill. The “Songs of the Great Lakes Region” performance begins at 6:00 p.m. CT. For more details, click on the link below.

https://www.sycamorelibrary.org/events/

Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, at The Maple Street Chapel in Lombard, Ill. for Lee Murdock’s 35th “Christmas Tree Ship Concert.” The 150-minute event begins at 7:00 p.m. CT. Tickets are $21.25 per person. To order, click on the link below.

https://maplestreetconcerts.org/event/6650088/770650169/lee-murdock-s-35th-annual-christmas-ship-show-tickets-20

For more details on upcoming performances and concerts, click on the link below.

https://mailchi.mp/ee68c075e7ca/lee-murdock-july-august-17459029?e=984ef55374

Image Source: Lee Murdock

On Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, the Hadley Township Historical Society in Hadley, Mich. will host a presentation entitled “Of...
09/12/2026

On Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, the Hadley Township Historical Society in Hadley, Mich. will host a presentation entitled “Offshore Outposts” by researcher, documentarian and author Ric Mixter. The one-hour event begins at 7:00 p.m. ET in the Hadley Township Offices at 4293 Pratt Road.

The program is based, in part, on Mixter’s documentary of the same title, which looks at the history of offshore lighthouses in the Great Lakes region, including the lights on Grassy Island, Stannard Rock, DeTour Reef and St. Helena Island, along with efforts to preserve them.

For more information, e-mail [email protected].

Image: The off-shore Stannard Rock Lighthouse in Lake Superior, circa 2021 (Source: Lake Superior Magazine).

Now through Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, the Mulva Cultural Center in De Pere, Wis. will be hosting the Wisconsin Historical...
09/11/2026

Now through Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, the Mulva Cultural Center in De Pere, Wis. will be hosting the Wisconsin Historical Society’s traveling exhibit entitled “We Like to Dive Right In” which explores the state’s rich maritime history.

Part of the Historical Society's History Makers Tour, the exhibit’s displays tell the stories of two of the more than 700 shipwrecks in Wisconsin’s waters. Artifacts, images and historical interpretation of those wrecks provide visitors with a look at the people, industries and communities that have shaped Wisconsin.

For more information, click on the link below.

https://mulvacenter.org/exhibits/wisconsin-historical-society-history-makers-tour-we-like-to-dive-right-in/

Image: Wisconsin Historical Society maritime archaeologists documenting the wreck of the schooner Northerner. The vessel and its wreck site are part of the “We Like to Dive Right In” traveling exhibit (Source: Wisconsin Historical Society).

On Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society will host a dinner presentation entitled “Incredible ...
09/10/2026

On Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society will host a dinner presentation entitled “Incredible Wrecks of Lake Michigan” by underwater photographer Cal Kothrade, who is also the Society’s Shipwreck Ambassador.

The event will be held at the South Shore Yacht Club in Milwaukee, Wis. Check-in begins at 6:00 p.m. CT. Kothrade’s program begins at 8:00 p.m. CT and will take an in depth look at seven of the most historically significant and hauntingly beautiful shipwrecks in Lake Michigan.

The cost of the presentation and dinner, which begins at 7:00 p.m. CT, is $65 per person. The reservation deadline is Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. To register or for more details, e-mail [email protected]

Image Source: Cal Kothrade

On Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, the Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society in Hart, Mich. will host a presentation ...
09/09/2026

On Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, the Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society in Hart, Mich. will host a presentation entitled “An Evening of Appreciation & Exploration” by researcher, documentarian and author Ric Mixter

The program will be based on Mixter’s almost 40 years of researching Great Lakes shipwrecks, such as the Edmund Fitzgerald, and documenting eyewitness accounts of survivors including crew members of the Henry Cort, Cedarville, Dorchester, Nordmeer, and Carl D. Bradley.

The two-hour event will begin at 6:00 p.m. ET at the West Michigan Research Center in Hart. Admission is $10 per person. For more details or to purchase tickets, click on the link below.

https://www.oceanahistory.com/events-1/evening-of-appreciation-and-exploration-1

Image Source: Ric Mixter

On Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026 the Thoroughbred Round-Up boat show in Manistee, Mich. will celebrate the 100 anniversary of...
09/08/2026

On Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026 the Thoroughbred Round-Up boat show in Manistee, Mich. will celebrate the 100 anniversary of Century Boats, an important part of local history. The event is free and runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET at the Manistee Municipal Marina.

The Century Boat Co. was founded in 1926 in Milwaukee, Wis. by James and William Welch, whose goal was to build fast, affordable racing runabouts for everyday people. They moved the business to Manistee in 1929.

The Century line of boats was manufactured there until 1986 when the company relocated to Panama City, Fla. Organized by the Century Boat Club, the upcoming show will feature more than 100 watercraft, with over 70 moored at the marina and another 30 on land.

Image: The Century Boat Co. factory on the Manistee River in Manistee, Mich. was established in 1929 (Source: Manistee County Historical Museum).

On Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2025, Lake Michigan Carferry Co. will offer guided tours of the historic carferry Badger while the...
09/08/2026

On Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2025, Lake Michigan Carferry Co. will offer guided tours of the historic carferry Badger while the ship is docked at Ludington, Mich. The event begins at 7:45 p.m. and will include tours of the vessel’s engine room and pilothouse.

Launched in 1952, the Badger was built in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. by the Christy Corp. for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co. The 411-foot vessel (LOA), along with its sister ship the Spartan, was designed to carry railroad cars and passengers.

The two ships initially ran across Lake Michigan between Ludington, Mich., and Kewaunee, Manitowoc and Milwaukee, Wis. Over time, both were modified to carry automobiles as well as railroad cars and passengers.

In 1990, railroad car ferry service on Lake Michigan ended. The Badger was then acquired by the Lake Michigan Carferry Service of Ludington, which was created to provide cross-lake ferry service just for passengers and automobiles.

To increase its auto capacity, the ship’s rail deck was covered with asphalt. In 2020, the Badger was acquired by the Lake Michigan Car Ferry Co., a subsidiary of Interlake Holding Co., the corporate parent of the Interlake Steamship Co.

The upcoming tours will last about 1.5-2 hours, depending on questions. Participants must be at least 18 years old or 10 years old if accompanied by a parent or guardian. The cost is $50 per person. To order tickets or more details, click on the link below.

https://ssbadger.com/dockside-events/

Image Source: Speed Shot Photography

Address

Madison, WI
53726

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Maritime Museum News posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Maritime Museum News:

Shortcuts

Share

Category