Our Story
The Maritime Heritage Alliance began as a group of friends with a passion for wooden boats and a will to preserve the heritage of boats unique to our local region. Starting in a vacant old fire hall on Cass Street in Traverse City, Michigan they acquired vessels that needed work and began to teach the skills they acquired.
The group completed its first boat-building project in 1982. The 23’ Replica Mackinaw boat, Gracie L. She can still be seen in the shops or out on the bay. In 1985 the fledgling organization decided to build a replica of the Schooner, Madeline. An 1845 schooner with historical ties to the area.
Now the Maritime Heritage Alliance has a small boat fleet, restoration shops, and a group of dedicated volunteers who are actively involved with sail training, crewing, and boat restorations. We welcome anyone in the community to join us in the shops, or on the water. Contact info@maritimeheritagealliance.org or call the office for more information.
We have grown since
Our fleet has grown in the past 40 years. Our large ships include Madeline, our 1845 Schooner. Champion a 38’ Concordia Cutter, that works with youth in the community.
The Cutter Champion was generously donated to us by Henry Barkhausen in 2009. She works with a variety of different youth groups and is available to charter on a limited basis.
Additionally, we have a small boat fleet. These enable our volunteers the opportunity to go out and practice their skills or have their own adventure.
In our shops there is always a project going on, we do all of our own maintenance as well as assisting our partners in the Discovery Pier and Collaborative with a variety of tasks.
During the week, groups of a variety of abilities and ages will be working on some kind of tactile project. Whether it is a small model, or helping with the “Big Ships” or a small boat restoration, there is always something going on.
