Events

Join the Michigan Maritime Museum Friday, May 22nd from 5:00-7:00pm for our annual Blessing of the Fleet and Fish Fry! Blessing boats at the start of a season or long journey is a centuries old tradition across the world. Here at the Michigan Maritime Museum, we will be blessing our On-Water fleet as well as…

Join us Saturday, June 6th from 11:00am-3:00pm for Free FUN Fest! This educational community carnival is fun, festive, and open to everyone! The campus of the Michigan Maritime Museum will be filled with games, giveaways, educational activities, and so much more! To top it off, all activities and museum entry are FREE! FREE city-wide shuttle…

A Collaborative Lecture Series by Kalamazoo Nature Center & Michigan Maritime Museum Discover the rich tapestry of Michigan's natural landscapes and maritime heritage in this engaging lecture series. From Forest to Shore brings together maritime experts and naturalists to explore the deep connections between the state's inland ecosystems and its Great Lakes waterways. Through captivating…

Maritime Bingo for Books is a lively, family-friendly event designed for curious minds ages 8 and up (children must attend with an adult), this 90-minute program puts a big, interactive twist on classic Bingo—and everything you need to play is provided.  Each number called connects to a fascinating maritime fact. You might hear B1 and…

Build a Recycled Plastic Bottle Boat Join us in the Jerry Mason Learning Center, where we’ll learn about what makes a boat float and build our own boats by recycling plastic water bottles! This program is free with your museum admission ticket and limited to the first 40 participants per session.  Morning Session: 10:30-11:30 AM…

Join us for the launching of the Ruth Wiser Innovation Portal and show off your skills at the Plastic Boat Regatta! This competition will take place on June 20th from 1:00pm-2:00pm. The kid's competition will be split into two categories; Ages 10 & under and ages 11-17. Boats are highly encouraged to be built at home,…

Join us for the launch of the Ruth Wiser Innovation Portal and put your skills to the test in the Plastic Boat Regatta! The competition will take place on June 20 from 3:30–5:00 PM and is open to participants ages 18 and older. Boats are highly encouraged to be built at home, but participants may also…

Iron ore trimmers of the late 1800s worked by hand in gangs to level the cargo dumped into a vessel’s hold. It was dirty, exhausting work that depended on speed and reliability. Trimmers occupied a unique position on the docks, often fighting rival gangs and employers to keep the work in their control. The trimmers…