Port of Ludington Maritime Museum
Port of Ludington Maritime Museum
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The Port of Ludington Maritime Museum brings history to life with digital storytelling, authentic images and artifacts, and engaging interactive exhibits that entertain, enlighten, and inspire a deeper appreciation for the region’s maritime history. Located in the former U.S. Coast Guard Station, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this family-friendly, three-story museum overlooks Lake Michigan’s wild shoreline, Ludington’s iconic North Pier Light, and the historic carferry Badger, extending the maritime experience beyond its doors in this vacation wonderland. The museum is operated by the Mason County Historical Society, which also operates the nearby Historic White Pine Village.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
54 reviews
Excellent
40
Very good
11
Average
2
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Chuck G
1 contribution
Jul 2023
Maritime Education
When you go to Ludington, MI, make sure you stop by the Maritime Museum. It's very educational, extremely well laid out and gives you and in-depth knowledge of the great lakes and the shipping and Coast Guard. It takes at least 2 hors to get through but you could spend 4-6 hours and learn a lot.
When you go to Ludington, MI, make sure you stop by the Maritime Museum. It's very educational, extremely well laid out and gives you and in-depth knowledge of the great lakes and the shipping and Coast Guard. It takes at least 2 hors to get through but you could spend 4-6 hours and learn a lot.
Written 16 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sunflower365
Michigan275 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
Our visit took about 2 hours and we felt like it was worth the price of admission. Plenty of informative displays and some fun hands-on stuff too. A great rainy or chilly day activity!
Written 24 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave C
Illinois1,709 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
A good-sized 3 story building that used first housed the coast guard, is now home to a Maritime Museum. There are exhibits and movies about local maritime history, boat building, the history of the ferry from Manitowoc, WI to Ludington, and some history of Ludington. There's a fair number of videos throughout as well as artifacts from ships. There's even a mini lighthouse for kids to climb up. There's one part where it seems there's a holographic sea captain telling his tales. There's a harrowing activity of trying to steer a cargo ship! Nice view of Lake Michigan from the top floor.
My wife and I got combo tickets for here and White Pine Historic Village.
My wife and I got combo tickets for here and White Pine Historic Village.
Written 14 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
spatts
Kalamazoo, MI248 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
Rainy day plus advice from our B&B hostess made this destination something we hadn't planned on. But what a nice surprise! Wondered if the $11 adult entry fee would be worth it, but it definitely was. Interesting exhibits, a couple interactive experiences, lots of history about the great lakes, ferries, coast guard, shipwrecks, lighthouses, maritime technology movie, lighthouse and wooden ship models and a souvenir shop. We decided to forego a planned trip later that week to the shipwreck museum 6 hours away in the UP simply because this visit satisfied our curiosity about similar topics. Great for adults and kids.
Written 4 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charlotte D
95 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
The new Maritime Museum in a former Coast Guard building in Ludington is a nice small museum for all ages. Young children will enjoy climbing the model of the Ludington Lighthouse. Older children will want to use the simulation of bringing the LMC Badger car ferry in to port, out of port through the breakwaters, or across to Manitowoc, WI. Our 9 year old granddaughter did all three because no one was waiting to use the simulator. She was also interested in the model of the engine of a Great Lakes ship and the full-sized model of the captain's quarters with the "captain" telling about his life in Ludington and on board the ship. The historic and contemporary maritime videos are also interesting.
Written 10 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Frances W
Tallahassee157 contributions
Aug 2017 • Friends
These folks know how to make a museum hold your attention. I've been to maritime museums all over the world, and this one stands well above most of them in educational quality and creativity. Hologram characters tell you their stories (I know it's weird, but I came away feeling like I KNOW these people!) You can see magnificent lighthouse lenses up close, try lading a ship, or guiding one into and out of port. I saw only one of the movies that cycle through their theater, but I'd like to go back and see the others, too.
Congratulations to the team that put this fine museum together.
Congratulations to the team that put this fine museum together.
Written 7 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the kind words. We are so very glad that you enjoyed your time and hope you visit again in the future.
Written 8 September 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cindy T
Freeland, United States181 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Worth your time for a visit. Very informative, multiple floors. Loved the sip simulator. Takes about 1-2 hours, depending on your interest. Something for everyone.
Written 30 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mscott1211
Manistee, MI203 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
We decided to visit the Martime Museum in Ludington. Me being a former scuba diver I enjoyed the information on Lake Michigan shipwrecks! I have actually dove in a few of the wrecks displayed . We spent about a hour and 1/2 walking through the 3 floors of exhibits and enjoyed everything on display. I eve got a chance to steal a large boat like the badger into Ludington Harbor! (Simulation) . But in all it was nice to visit and spend time looking over all the displays.
Written 26 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tim J
Tipp City, OH90 contributions
Jul 2021
This is a 3-story museum with many exhibits and lots of interaction with displays. It is almost too much to take in with 1 visit. Plan on several hours at least,
Written 12 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fritomann
Portage Lakes, OH264 contributions
Aug 2019 • Solo
If you're into this you can spend a couple of hours studying the exhibits and talking to the. employees and volunteers. They will probably have time to give you their undivided attention. Steer a Lake Michigan car ferry into Ludington harbor. To a history buff like myself, that all these archives have survived mishaps, shipwrecks, and time, is amazing. his is an excellent museum.
Written 10 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the kind review! We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the museum!
Written 13 August 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
the location of this in ludington
Written 23 September 2017
217 S. Lakeshore Dr, next to the Coast Guard Station. It's a quite a few blocks from the ferry entrance but well worth visiting!!
Written 24 September 2017
where is it located, in ludington?
Written 23 September 2017
The museum is at the end of Lakeshore Drive. Turn left from 10 and it's straight ahead, nextdoor to the Coast Guard station. It's small but worth investigating.
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Written 24 September 2017
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