Port Huron Maritime Center Torn Down

Port Huron, MI – The Great Lakes Maritime Center in Port Huron was demolished Wednesday morning. The Center was closed in 2023 because of low attendance and a decision by the owner to shift gears. The center was privately operated by Acheson Ventures for nearly 20 years, but the property had been listed for sale and will likely be redeveloped.

The Maritime Center was a place to learn about Great Lakes history, watch boats, and relax. It had a nautical museum, a riverwalk, a farmers’ market, a snack bar, and a coffee shop. It hosted many Great Lakes-themed presentations, including an annual book release signing for Know Your Ships and a fall Authorama book and artist event. For several years it was the real-world home of boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/ and its representative, "Freighter" Frank Frisk.

Since the announcement in late 2023 that center was closing, many of the maritime artifacts that had been on display there found a new home at the Port Huron Museums.

While some groups, such as the Great Lakes Nautical Society, which had model ships at the center, took back their own items, Mike Delong, vice president of operations at Acheson Ventures, which owns the Maritime Center and surrounding Vantage Point site, confirmed earlier this year that many of the items displayed there had been taken in by the museum after they announced closure of the facility in late 2023.

Port Huron philanthropist Jim Acheson, the Maritime Center’s founder, died in 2023.