Muskegon Maritime Historical Society

07/20/2026

Come out and see us!

Be sure to mark your calendar for this FREE historical presentation at Hackley Library!
Presented by Chase Kolberg of the Muskegon Maritime Historical Society.

Registration is preferred so please register at the link below:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSftrcaGY4sTMN4we8nXydSb4MSeD04Z9oFq65VmnH-ds9CRfw/viewform
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5:00pm, Monday, July 20 at Hackley Library
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Join us to learn more about the award-winning and record-breaking SS United States. This program will also include the opportunity to see some unique artifacts from this ship!

07/04/2026

06/30/2026

After watching the USS Silversides Submarine Museum start her engines at noon, and visiting Muskegon Lighthouses for a tour of our fabulous lighthouses, come out to the USS LST 393 Veterans Museum to see the fireworks display like no other on the waters of Muskegon Lake aboard the only vessel with deep roots in both Muskegon’s ferry service and WW2 (in keeping our nation free on the shores of Sicily and Normandy).

We look forward to seeing you out there and supporting our Muskegon Maritime History!

06/20/2026

If you have an interest in Maritime History, Ocean Liners, and our local Muskegon Maritime Heritage stop by our table! We’ll be downtown at the Mart Dock until 3:00.

06/11/2026

ATTENTION all community members, if you have an interest in maritime history, or helping your community, become a part of the Muskegon Maritime Historical Society today! If you would like to take on more of a leadership role, join our team as a board member, and help put on our community events and presentations. If you want to help us with archival records, historical research, and other miscellaneous projects join our team as a volunteer. And if you just enjoy history and want to support our group join us as a free member!

Contact: [email protected]
for more information.

04/15/2026

Volunteers wanted! At the USS LST 393 Veterans Museum in Muskegon.

FRONT DESK HELP NEEDED.

Help preserve history, meet great people, and make an impact.

👉 Fill out the volunteer sign-up and join the crew!
VOLUNTEER SIGN UP
https://forms.gle/YQKryuhHthU99k3K9

02/02/2026

The last surviving captain of the Milwaukee Clipper, Captain Robert “Bob” Priefer, a WW2 veteran of the US Merchant Marines, passed away. He captained both the Milwaukee Clipper and the USS LST 393 when it was used as a car ferry between Muskegon and Milwaukee.

After retirement, “Captain Bob” resided in the Lakeside neighborhood of Muskegon, eventually taking one of the prominent roles (alongside Coke Billinghurst and Jim Plant), in 1997, to bring the Milwaukee Clipper home and hoped to see it as a successful maritime museum, event center, and “boatel” in downtown Muskegon. In fact, Captain Bob “captained” the Clipper for the final time in December 1997 when it was towed from the Chicago area to Muskegon.

He served as a board member for decades and recently celebrated his 103rd birthday at the Milwaukee Clipper in August, attended by a few of the current board members, several volunteers, and much of the Muskegon community.

Captain Bob’s contributions to Muskegon’s maritime history are profound and incalculable. The loss is immense, and we are truly heartbroken. Our thoughts are with his family.