Sweetwater Film Showcase
2025-07-25 10:30 - 15:30 UTC | Michigan Maritime Museum, 260 Dyckman Avenue, South Haven, MI, 49090, United States
This event is proudly sponsored by:
The Horton Family in honor of Gary Horton
The Michigan Maritime Museum is proud to present the Sweetwater Film Showcase. This two-day event will feature short and full length documentaries about Great Lakes topics that highlight the connections, contributions, and stories of underrepresented and minority communities and persons to Great Lakes maritime history and heritage. The Showcase is a part of the Museum’s Whispers Across the Water series.
2025 Documentary Selections
Members- $15 per person/per day
Non-Members $20 per person/per day
Get Tickets

Fish Tales Story Time
2025-07-28 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-08-11 10:30 - 11:30 (America/Detroit)
Join us at the Michigan Maritime Museum at 10:30 am every Monday June through August as we read a maritime-themed story from our maritime children’s book library! These story times are perfect for young families and included with regular museum admission.

Fish Tales is a collaboration with the Michigan Maritime Museum, the American Association of University Women, and the South Haven Scott Club.

Maritime Makers
2025-07-29 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-08-12 10:30 - 11:30 (America/Detroit)
Join us at the Michigan Maritime Museum every Tuesday throughout the summer for a make-and-take arts and crafts program! Participants will create their piece of maritime-themed art at this drop-in program while educators provide assistance and exciting information related to that day’s theme.

These programs are geared towards children, but anyone can participate! Included with general admission.

Maritime Makers is proudly sponsored by Clark & Cathy Carmichael

Hands-On the Harbor Day Camp
2025-07-31 10:30 - 12:30, 2025-08-14 10:30 - 12:30 UTC
Hands-On the Harbor is a weekly Day Camp that is offered Thursdays June – August, starting June 12th, from 10:30am to 12:30pm. You can drop your camper off to enjoy Museum educator-led immersive and hands-on activities, exhibit tours, and fun at the Michigan Maritime Museum! Campers will participate in a variety of maritime-themed programs exploring both inside the Museum’s Jerry Mason Learning Center and out on our waterfront campus.
Registration is $10 per student per day, $7 for Museum Members. Capacity for each camp is limited to fifteen students, so register today! To sign up or for questions, contact leslie@mimaritime.org or (269) 637-8078 ext. 205.

Purchase Tickets Here

STEAM Camp
2025-08-04 09:30 - 12:00, 2025-08-05 09:30 - 12:00, 2025-08-06 09:30 - 12:00, 2025-08-07 09:30 - 12:00, 2025-08-08 09:30 - 12:00 (America/Detroit)
The Museum offers a STEAM focused summer camp for students grades 3-5 (ages 8-10). The camp runs for one week in the summer and is open to 15 students. The STEAM curriculum focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. The day camp, held on the Museum campus in South Haven, features a maritime themed program through engaging STEAM activities and lessons. The camp includes hands-on activities, lessons aboard our tall ship Friends Good Will, interactive exhibit tours, and a paddle on the Black River in a voyageur canoe.
For more information visit the STEAM Camp webpage.

STEAM Camp is proudly sponsored by Ruth Wiser

Lunch & Learn: Sailors, Keepers, Racers, and More: Women on the Great Lakes
2025-08-13 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Detroit)
Proudly sponsored by the Nielsen-Wells Grant Fund and Mike & Susan Smith
The Great Lakes have a long and fascinating history of women involved in maritime life at every level, from cooks to captains. Join Chicago Maritime Museum curator Madeline Crispell as she explores the evolving roles women have played on the Great Lakes over centuries. Learn about trailblazers who worked as lighthouse keepers or led female racing teams, but also about everyday women who helped keep life on the Great Lakes afloat.
Madeline Crispell is the curator of the Chicago Maritime Museum. Her exhibitions, walking tours, and public programs across Chicagoland have focused on a range of subjects, from American travel history to the Thorne Miniature Rooms to Chicago’s alleyways.
This lecture is part of our year-long series Whispers Across the Water celebrating the diverse and often underrepresented voices that have contributed to Great Lakes maritime heritage.

Rock the Boat 2025
2025-08-22 19:00 - 22:00 (America/Detroit)
Join the Michigan Maritime Museum at our 4th annual Rock the Boat concert. Come rock out at an evening of fun, food, music, and definitely dancing on the Museums waterfront campus. Proceeds benefit the Michigan Maritime Museum.
Back by popular demand, The 1985 Band will surely get you up on your feet and jammin’ to some sick beats. Featuring the best of what 80’s music has to offer, The 1985 combines lights, videos, costumes and more to create a totally immersive music experience.
Proudly sponsored by Scott & Julia Robbins and Clark & Cathy Carmichael.

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Lecture Series-Manistee River Lake Sturgeon: 20 Years of Restoration
2025-09-17 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Detroit)
Fisheries biologist Corey Jerome will sharing an overview of 20 years of Little River Band of Ottawa Indians (LRBOI) Big Manistee River Nmé restoration efforts. This plan incorporates both cultural and biological criteria for establishing goals for restoration of the Big Manistee River nmé population. An LRBOI Cultural Context Task Group, composed of Tribal members and Tribal government staff, addressed the cultural context. Tribal biologists developed the biological criteria to be consistent and ultimately driven by the cultural context. Through the implementation of the Nmé (Lake Sturgeon) Stewardship Plan an overview of where Big Manistee River streamside stocking has been over the years, documented juvenile/adult recruitment, and characterization of the adult spawning population.

Corey Jerome is a Fisheries Biologist with the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Natural Resources Department and has been leading lake sturgeon restoration and rehabilitation within the Manistee River and the 1836 ceded territory for Little River Band of Ottawa Indians since 2012. Was first introduced to the rehabilitation that Little River was conducting during the summer of 2007 as a summer seasonal technician while completing bachelor’s degree in Fisheries Management at Lake Superior State University.

Adults $10, Museum Members FREE

Whispers Across the Water Lecture Series is proudly sponsored by the
Nielsen-Wells Grant Fund and Mike & Susan Smith
Reserve Tickets Here

Dan Seavey: Confessions of a Great Lakes Pirate
2025-10-10 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Detroit)
Special Preview Performance
Dan Seavey: Confessions of A Great Lakes Pirate
Starring Tom Kastle
Directed by Francisco Torres
Dan Seavey: Confessions of A Great Lakes Pirate is a one man play written and performed by actor, musician, and tall ships sailor Tom Kastle for adult and young adult audiences.* It looks, both comically, and seriously, at the life of THE Great Lakes pirate of all time; Dan Seavey, who lived from 1865 to 1949. He was a lumberman, businessman, bureaucrat, Navy veteran, saloon keeper, Klondike gold rush miner, sailor, bootlegger, and law enforcement officer, but his biggest claim was that of… Great Lakes pirate.
Like literary contemporaries such as Long John Silver, this production treats Seavey as a charming character, a colorful character, and a flawed character, as well. A man who has done some terrible things but, in the end, you want to cheer for him and wish him well, as he sails off into the sunset.
About the performer
For years, Tom Kastle traveled the world, collecting and performing maritime songs and stories and sailing tall ships on the Great Lakes. These days, his passions are even more diverse and include theatrical projects, from Man of La Mancha to Shakespeare to God Help Us! with the legendary Ed Asner; film projects, like Francisco Torres’ Delight In the Mountain; and television, where he hosted a short documentary on the Bicentennial Battle of Lake Erie that was nominated for an Emmy Award. His captain and relief captain credits include the tall ships around the Great Lakes. Kastle was Relief Captain of the Michigan Maritime Museum’s own tall ship Friends Good Will in 2006 and Captain in 2007.
Tickets: $10 per person, $5 Museum Members
*This play is not for children. Dan Seavey contains examples of drinking, violence, and mild language. In other words, actual adult pirate behavior
Purchase Tickets Here

Lecture Series- Ancestral Waters: The Pokagon Band and their Homelands
2025-10-15 18:30 - 19:30 UTC
Whispers Across the Water Lecture Series Continues!

Join the Michigan Maritime Museum and presenter Cecil Wilson on Wednesday, October 15th at 6:30 PM as Cecil shares the history of his people, their connection to the land and waters of the Great Lakes, and the ways they have carried their traditions forward. Since time immemorial the Pokagon Band people have called the Great Lakes their home and water is sacred as it has helped shape their past and their future.

Cecil Wilson is an enrolled citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi and a proud member of the Turtle Clan. His work centers on the preservation of the cultural landscapes, histories, and living stories of his people. Deeply rooted in a sense of place and responsibility, Cecil works at the intersection of advocacy, education, and cultural revitalization. Whether engaging in government-to-government dialogue, researching historical land use, or sharing oral histories with both Native and non-Native communities, he is committed to ensuring that the voice of the Pokagon Band remains strong and visible. His efforts reflect a core belief: that the Pokagon people are not only a part of history, but a thriving, present, and enduring Nation with a future shaped by sovereignty, resilience, and connection to land and water. This lecture is part of our year-long programmatic series Whispers Across the Water that showcases and celebrates the invaluable contributions of minority communities to Great Lakes maritime history and heritage.

Tickets are free for Museum members and $10 for non-members. Doors open at 6 PM. You can purchase tickets for this event online, over the phone, or in-person.

This lecture series is made possible thanks to the Nielsen-Wells Grant Fund and Mike & Susan Smith.

Reserve Tickets Here!

Kids' Halloween Spooktacular
2025-10-23 16:00 - 18:00 UTC
Calling all little ghosts and ghouls to the Michigan Maritime Museum Annual Kids’ Halloween Spooktacular!
Join us on October 23rd from 4 PM – 6 PM for a family-friendly Halloween celebration.
When children arrive, they’ll be given a treasure map guiding them to eight learning locations across the Museum’s campus. At each stop, they’ll have the chance to take part in fun activities, earn candy, and collect prizes. Along the way there will be costumes, games, trick-or-treating, and lots of surprises.
The best part? This event is completely FREE—and families can also enjoy a little exploration inside the Museum! Put on your costumes and come down for a Spooktacular evening of discovery and fun. The animals of the Michigan Maritime campus have donned their costumes for a fun and spooky, but not scary adventure. Rain or shine, in the case of poor weather the celebration continues inside our Mike and Linda Winkel & Mike and Sue Smith Maritime Heritage Center.

This family-friendly event is proudly sponsored by State Farm Insurance, Kevin Hagan Office, 228 Broadway Street, South Haven, MI

Free First Sundays
2025-11-02 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-07 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-01-04 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-02-01 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-03-01 10:00 - 17:00 (America/Detroit)
The Michigan Maritime Museum is open the first Sundays of every month from November through April from 10am-5pm with FREE admission for all visitors!
Guests can explore the Museum’s indoor and outdoor galleries, featuring a mix of permanent and rotating exhibits that celebrate Michigan’s rich maritime history. Step aboard the Full Steam Ahead exhibit and experience the golden age of steamship travel on the Great Lakes, or discover the heroism and ingenuity of the U.S. Coast Guard Lifesaving Service. Be sure to explore the Museum’s collection of antique and historically significant boats, some dating back to the 1800s.
While at the Museum, don’t miss the chance to learn a classic sailor’s skill by practicing maritime knot tying in the Jerry Mason Learning Center.
Make plans today to visit and discover the wonders of the Michigan Maritime Museum

Lecture Series- Freedom Via Water! Freedom Seekers and the Underground Railroad on and Near Lake Michigan
2025-11-12 18:30 - 19:30 UTC
Whispers Across the Water Lecture Series Continues!
Join the Michigan Maritime Museum and presenter Dr. Larry McClellan and on Wednesday, November 12th at 6:30 PM as McClellan weaves a tale of freedom seekers in the Great Lakes region. Freedom via Water! Freedom Seekers and the Underground Railroad on and near Lake Michigan will discuss the decades before the Civil War when hundreds of freedom seekers escaping their enslavement in the South made their way to Chicago and then onward to Detroit and freedom in Canada. They traveled on and near Lake Michigan and once in Detroit, crossed Lake Huron to freedom. With images, maps and stories, this program will explore these journeys.
Dr. Larry A. McClellan is the President of the Midwest Underground Railroad Network, serves on the Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force and is a professor emeritus at Governors State University. This lecture is part of our year-long programmatic series Whispers Across the Water that showcases and celebrates the invaluable contributions of minority communities to Great Lakes maritime history and heritage.

Tickets are free for Museum members and $10 for non-members. Doors open at 6 PM. You can purchase tickets for this event online, over the phone, or in-person.

This lecture series is made possible thanks to the Nielsen-Wells Grant Fund and Mike & Susan Smith.

Reserve Tickets Here!

Maggie's Ship Store Grand Reopening!
2025-11-29 10:00 - 17:00 (America/Detroit)
Maggie’s Ship Store at the Michigan Maritime Museum will celebrate its Grand Reopening on Small Business Saturday, November 29th!
We’ll have hundreds of new products, special membership discounts, and free coffee and hot chocolate.
Can’t make it in person? Visit our new online Ship Store, launching November 28th.

KalHaven Strings Holiday Concert
2025-12-17 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Detroit)
Join us in our Winkel-Smith Maritime Heritage Center for a special holiday concert featuring Megan Healy and Lydia Raymond, a violin/cello duo from the KalHaven Strings. Get in the holiday spirit with this family-friendly concert.
The KalHaven Strings are West Michigan’s premier wedding and event musicians, performing for over 50 events each year. The ensemble was founded in 2014 as graduate students at Western Michigan University. Highly adaptable and versatile, they are skilled in performing a variety of styles, from Vivaldi to Roddy Ricch, Metallica to Taylor Swift, Post Malone to Bach, and more.
The concert is FREE with a donation of $5.00 or two non-perishable food items. Donations will be collected at the door. These donations will benefit the food bank at Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Holidays at the Heritage Center is proudly sponsored by Greg and Marian O’Niel

Selfies with Santa
2025-12-20 11:00 - 15:00 (America/Detroit)
Santa returns to the Maritime Heritage Center! Join us in the Deary Mead Family Grand Atrium for photos, warm chats, and plenty of holiday cheer. Bring your camera to take photos of your family with Santa, and tell him what you want on the big day! There will also be a holiday craft and other festive activities in our Jerry Mason Learning Center.
This is a FREE event, no tickets required.

Holidays at the Heritage Center is proudly sponsored by Greg and Marian O’Niel.

Cookies and Cocoa with Captain Bob
2025-12-20 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Detroit)
Before or after your Selfie with Santa, join Captain Bob as he reads books in the Jerry Mason Learning Center from the newly updated Museum’s Ship’s Store. Sip hot cocoa, nibble cookies, and soak in a warm, festive, family-friendly atmosphere full of holiday cheer. Readings will occur at Noon and 1pm.
This is a FREE event, no tickets required.

Holidays at the Heritage Center is proudly sponsored by Greg and Marian O’Niel.

Robotics Demo Day
2026-02-01 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Detroit)
Dive into technology at the Michigan Maritime Museum as South Haven Robotics Team Ramageddon, Team Goatageddon, and Team Lambageddon provide demonstrations of their FIRST competitive robots from 1 pm to 4 pm. We’ll also have EMILY, South Haven’s water rescue robot on hand. Admission to the museum during this event is FREE thanks to our Free First Sundays series.

MMM Lecture Series: History of the Great Lakes in 12 Shipwrecks with Valerie van Heest
2026-02-25 18:30 - 19:30 UTC
Join us as maritime historian, author, and underwater explorer Valerie van Heest celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States by exploring one dozen shipwrecks that together provide an overview of not only the history of the Great Lakes, but that of our nation. This multimedia lecture depicts the events that led to the founding of America and changes to the landscape of North America and the shipping industry over the next two and half centuries.

Tickets are free for Museum members and $10 for non-members. Doors open at 6 PM. You can purchase tickets for this event online, over the phone, or in-person.

This lecture series is made possible thanks to the Nielsen-Wells Grant Fund and Mike & Susan Smith.

Reserve Tickets Here!
Purchase your Virtual Lecture Pass Here!
