Lake Champlain Maritime Museum

The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum is a maritime museum in Ferrisburgh with 18 buildings across two sites, housing exhibits, a boat shop, a blacksmith workshop, and an archaeological conservation laboratory. The collections document various aspects of shipping history and boat-building techniques specific to this lake.

The museum was established in 1985 in a stone schoolhouse on the Basin Harbor Club grounds and has since grown into a major research center for Lake Champlain maritime history. This expansion reflects the region's commitment to preserving its nautical past.

The museum displays replica vessels, including the canal schooner Lois McClure, which travel the lake to show how people in this region once navigated its waters. You can see how these boats worked and what role they played in local life.

The museum is open daily from May through October and offers free admission to all visitors. The multiple buildings and outdoor spaces require comfortable walking shoes and time to explore all areas thoroughly.

The museum directs extensive research on sunken vessels in the lake, including a project to salvage and preserve the Spitfire, a warship that sank during an early American naval battle. This work has led to the rediscovery of many historical wrecks.

Location: Ferrisburgh

Inception: 1985

Website: http://lcmm.org

GPS coordinates: 44.19720,-73.35770

Latest update: December 13, 2025 11:43