Port of Ludington Maritime Museum

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Ludington will now have a place where residents and visitors alike can step back in the past and learn about our maritime history. The Port of Ludington Maritime Museum will be housed in the former U.S. Coast Guard Station, now on the National Register of Historic Places.



The Ludington Maritime Museum building is in a prime location overlooking the harbor and will become a popular attraction in an already beautiful Lake Michigan city. Groundbreaking began in May of 2015 and the exterior renovations are now nearly complete. The talented exhibit designers are busily engaged in crafting some of the most engaging, captivating, and interactive exhibits imaginable.

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Within the Maritime Museum

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The museum will focus on Ludington's harbor history, our carferries, and the Coast Guard. There are three major "hooks" to the museum--one being a 110-foot panorama painting of Pere Marquette Lake and how it looked in the 1800s. There will also be a tribute to the Pere Marquette 22 carferry...featuring the pilothouse itself. The third attraction is a scale model diorama of the Elberta railyard, built by blueprint designer Art Gerritsen and donated by his wife to honor his memory. Considering the building was once the Ludington headquarters for the Coast Guard, this is considered a "museum within a museum" and will pay tribute to the men and women who serve on our lakes.

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Maritime Museum Fundraising in Progress

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The fundraising campaign has raised $4.2 million, with $800,000 left to go to complete Phase I in order to be open in 2016. Many local businesses have donated, including a $100,000 donation from the Ludington Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. The community has shown that there is overwhelming support for the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, and you are invited to help with the fundraising effort.

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Donations Accepted

To help make this museum a reality, additional financial contributions are needed. Please help support this project, so that generations to come can enjoy and learn about Ludington's rich maritime history.


To donate, call Mason County Historical Society at (231) 425-3825, or phone Dr. Rick Plummer at (231) 852-0685. You can also visit www.LudingtonMaritimeMuseum.org for more information.

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Maritime Museums Around the Great Lakes

Interested in discovering more maritime museums around Lake Michigan? See our story about the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc.

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More History in the Ludington Area...


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For more activities & attractions, check out these additional links for Things to Do in West Michigan:


Ludington Activities & Things to Do -- Play on a beautiful beach, take a tour at Historic White Pine Village, or explore the barn quilt trail, murals or sculptures in the county--Ludington offers many fun things to do for the entire family!
Have Fun in Manistee, Michigan -- Explore Manistee's historic downtown district and riverwalk, hike the Manistee National Forest, canoe on the Manistee River, and more.
Hamlin Lake -- Just 4 miles north of Ludington, Hamlin Lake is a great destination for boating, fishing and climbing dunes! The Hamlin Lake shoreline is also part of the Ludington State Park.
Silver Lake Sand Dunes -- Visiting the Silver Lake Sand Dunes makes for a terrific vacation because you can take your off-road vehicle for a spin on the scenic sand dunes overlooking Lake Michigan and Silver Lake.
Things to Do in Pentwater, Michigan -- Nothing is quite like the quaint, artsy, harbortown village of Pentwater. Don't miss the popular Charles Mears State Park beach on Pentwater's Lake Michigan shoreline.
Lots of Activities in Scottville, Michigan -- Explore the Riverside Park along the National Scenic Pere Marquette River.
Canoeing or Fishing on the Pere Marquette River -- Many boat liveries offer canoe rentals.
Also, check out West Michigan Guides and our locally produced www.MichBiz.com Business Directory for our largest lists of Things to Do in West Michigan.
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Last Updated: 10-19-2018 02:35 PM ID: 1064