PHOTO COURTESY OF WEST MICHIGAN TOURIST ASSOCIATION
On October 1, the Michigan Maritime Museum purchased the historic Jensen Property in South Haven for $1.6 million. The building has a storied past in Great Lakes maritime history as the former home of Jensen’s Fishery, and sits on the north side of the Black River, just adjoining the current museum campus.
The purchase doubles the size of the museum campus, securing its place at the center of the Maritime District in South Haven. The museum intends to restore the property into a sustainable working waterfront, increasing public access to the area and showcasing exhibits related to commercial fishing, recreational boating activities, and other maritime cultural and natural heritage topics.
“This is truly a historic day for the Museum and for South Haven,” says Michigan Maritime Museum Executive Director Patti Reinert. “We could not be more excited to be purchasing this historic property. This purchase has been a dream for many people involved with the Museum for a very long time. The process has been three years in the making and now the dream is coming true.”
Funds to purchase the property were raised entirely through donation efforts as part of the museum’s “Launching a Legacy” campaign. The $8 million raised will go towards the Jensen Property purchase, a new two-story main facility, additional buildings, indoor and outdoor event spaces, docks, and shoreline work throughout the museum property.
To learn more, visit wmta.org.
