About Us:

The Marquette Maritime Museum Association began in 1980.  The Museum was opened in the old City Waterworks building in the summer of 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 11,000 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 and a variety of part -time tour guides.  The Museum also relies on volunteers to help with day to day operations and general maintenance.

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.