Museums In Michigan

Get your sea legs on Wisconsin's Schooner Coast

Wisconsin is far from lacking when it comes to the great outdoors. Between camping and cabin life, there are plenty of natural wonders to explore in the woods "up north."

In the 1800s, these forests were a major source of lumber for growing cities on the Great Lakes and out east. Maritime shipping flourished on the northeastern shores of the state, including in Manitowoc, which became famous for its schooners.

While the shipping industry has dissipated, the region still proudly showcases its nautical culture – from historic shipwrecks still preserved in the depths of Lake Michigan to a brand new summer program designed to attract even more visitors to its distinctive shores.

"There's no place else in the country – even on the east coast in New England, believe it or not – where you can travel 60 miles of beautiful shoreline that has two wonderful maritime museums and all the other attractions right here," said Norma Bishop, executive director of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc.

One of the largest maritime museums on the Great Lakes, the Wisconsin Maritime Museum worked in partnership with the Door County Maritime Museum to create a singular identity that reflected the area's rich history on the open water.

"We worked for over a year and a half to put this together," said Bishop. "In the 19th century, we were renowned for our ability to build schooners. We thought that was just a perfect heritage to highlight with Wisconsin's Schooner Coast."

Wisconsin's Schooner Coast brings together the communities of Manitowoc, Two Rivers, Kewaunee, Algoma and Sturgeon Bay. The creation of this unified maritime destination was made possible by a $40,000 Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) grant from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, which offers state non-profits the ability and funding to promote and grow local tourism efforts.

Among some of the Schooner Coast's more unique offerings are the shipwrecks that lie at the bottom of the area's Lake Michigan waters, including the famous Christmas Tree Ship, the Rouse Simmons. According to Bishop, these wrecks make for an especially attractive draw for both new and experienced divers.

"In most places of the world where there are shipwrecks, there's salt water and the shipwrecks deteriorate very rapidly, but we have fresh, cold water, which preserves these things in remarkable condition," she explained. "The recreational diving business is growing here. We have tour leaders, dive masters here in the community that can take people out to these wrecks.

Michigan museums offer military families free tickets

Some of the Michigan museums participating in the program include the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores, the Grand Rapids Art Museum, the Kids `N' Stuff Children's Museum in Albion, the North Berrien Historical Museum in Coloma, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in Ishpeming, and the Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills.

Museums in Michigan by County, Museums in Alcona County, Michigan, Museums in Alger County, Michigan, Museums in Allegan County, Michigan

Museums in Michigan by City, Museums in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Museums in Detroit, Michigan, Museums in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Museums in Lansing

Ethnic Museums in Michigan, African American Museums in Michigan, Native American Museums in Michigan, Arab American National Museum

Science Museums in Michigan, Natural History Museums in Michigan, Museums at the University of Michigan, Ottawa National Forest

University Museums in Michigan, Great Lakes Quilt Center, Museums at the University of Michigan, Meadow Brook Hall, Kalamazoo Valley Museum