Began in 1980 as the Marquette Maritime Museum Association, the museum was opened in the old City Waterworks building in 1982. The building is a one story, stone, hipped-roof Richardsonian Romanesque style structure with a parapeted front gable and rounded arch windows. It was designed by architect Demetrius Frederick Charlton.
Last year there were approximately 12,000 visitors to the museum. Of those, 30% were local, mostly schoolchildren. 40% were from other parts of Michigan and 20% were from out of state. We had visitors from every state except Hawaii and Rhode Island!
During the summer months, the museum is staffed with two full-time workers. The bulk of the effort is accomplished through volunteers.
Much of the work preparing the museum for the season is done by our Board of Directors. “We work our board hard...but they are hard workers too!” Nothing we have accomplished could have been done without them.
